Chapter 14: Learning a New Language
1288 Words
Morning Chores
Becca awoke before her alarm the following morning.
She lay still for several moments listening.
The ceiling fan droned softly above her head.
A mockingbird chirped somewhere outside her bedroom window.
The house was still asleep.
She shifted her gaze to her nightstand.
Craig’s truck keys sat beside her alarm clock.
She picked them up and turned them over in her hand.
He hadn’t accidentally left them behind.
He’d left them as a promise.
“When something goes wrong… I’m coming home.”
She smiled.
It was such a simple thing.
How could a key hold so much promise?
Yet somehow it had become a reminder that not every silence ended in pain.
The Back Door
The back door creaked open.
Instantly, Nugget announced breakfast to the entire neighborhood of chickens.
“I know,” Becca laughed. “You act as you’ve never eaten before.”
The hen clucked indignantly.
Craig’s truck rolled into the driveway just as she tossed feed into the run.
He climbed out carrying two cups of coffee.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
He strolled over to the fence dividing their property from the neighbor’s yard.
“How are the ladies?”
Nugget flapped her wings theatrically.
Craig nodded.
“I see Nugget is still running the homeowners’ association.”
The youngest child darted through the back door.
“She yelled at Biscuit this morning.”
Craig gasped.
“What was the complaint?”
“I think Biscuit was standing where Nugget wanted to stand.”
Craig crossed his arms.
“Classic Nugget.”
The youngest giggled.
“I told you she was bossy.”
The Conversation They Didn’t Avoid
The kids left with Melissa that afternoon for the remainder of the day.
Silence enveloped the house like a thick fog.
Craig dried the last of the dishes while Becca rinsed them under hot water.
She glanced over at him suddenly.
“Can we talk about last night?”
He looked up from his stance on the kitchen floor immediately.
“Of course.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to account for every minute of your day.”
“I don’t.”
“I mean that.”
She dried a plate methodically, watching the water drip from the dish into the sink.
“I don’t want my past to become your responsibility.”
Craig leaned against the side of the counter, elbows braced.
“I’ve been thinking about that too.”
“You have?”
“I don’t think it is.”
She frowned slightly.
“No?”
“I think it’s my privilege.”
She stared at him.
He offered a gentle smile in return.
“There’s a difference.”
Two Glasses of Sweet Tea
The sun sat just above the horizon now, casting morning light onto their front porch.
Craig carried two glasses of sweet tea out from the kitchen and joined Becca on their swing.
“If I can tell you something I’ve noticed…”
She laughed.
“You notice everything.”
“I try.” He paused and took her hands in his. “When something scares you…”
He waited patiently, careful not to crowd her.
Becca blinked up at him through the sunlight.
“…your instinct is to apologize.”
“I do?”
“You apologized three times last night.”
“I did?”
“You even apologized for worrying.”
Becca lowered her gaze. “I guess I did.”
“You never apologized for being scared.”
She stayed silent for a long time.
“I don’t think anyone ever taught you the difference.”
She wrapped both hands around her glass tightly.
“I was so busy trying to make sure everyone else was alright.”
Craig nodded knowingly.
“I know.”
“I don’t even know how to accept comfort.” She twisted her hands together.
“I think we can teach you that.” Craig reached across the porch swing and gently held her hands in his.
“You?” She questioned.
“Me and you.” He intertwined their fingers.
“Learning to be in a relationship is like learning a new language.”
Becca tilted her head curiously.
“How do you mean?”
“If someone grows up hearing ‘you shouldn’t’…”
Craig intertwined his fingers with hers.
…” they don’t know how to accept comfort.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“So, I just perpetuate the problem? I keep telling myself I shouldn’t…”
“Sometimes.”
Craig rubbed her hands softly with his thumbs.
“But you are learning.” He smiled at her encouragement.
Craig’s Test
That afternoon, Craig took matters into his own hands and climbed onto their roof to clean the gutters.
He was afraid the fall season would bring damaging storms and wanted to prepare.
Becca had been inside folding laundry when she heard it.
A loud crash in the backyard. Followed by complete silence.
Her heart clenched in her chest.
Dropping her towel, she darted outside.
“Craig!”
Running around the side of the house, she found him on the grass beside the ladder.
His foot must’ve slipped in the loose dirt.
“Oh my gosh!”
Grabbing onto his shoulders, she knelt beside him.
“Are you okay?”
Craig looked up at her with embarrassment.
“I guess my pride mostly.”
“Oh, Craig.” Becca chuckled nervously.
“I’m kidding!” He wiped his brow. “My ankle’s a little sore.”
Truthfully, she didn’t realize she was trembling until Craig softly took her hands in his.
“Hey.” He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
She met his eyes again. “I’m fine.”
Shaking her head quickly, she nodded. “No. You’re not.”
“You are though.” He sat up straight and brushed the grass off his pants.
“I don’t think so.” She hesitated.
Craig sighed and propped himself up on his elbows.
Staying Present
“You stayed.”
“What?” She wasn’t sure what he was referring to.
“In the present.” He motioned to the ground beneath them. “You didn’t get stuck over there.”
“Over there where?”
He chuckled. “When I fell. When you heard me… You took care of the problem.”
Becca thought about it for a moment.
He was right. Of course, he was right.
She was terrified. Completely and utterly terrified.
But for a few seconds, where she wanted to run from everything…
She stayed present.
She breathed.
She took care of Craig Johnson.
The Lesson
It was evening now, and they sat together on the front porch swing.
Craig propped his injured foot up on a small stool underneath him. It was wrapped in an ankle brace.
The youngest of their children shuffled over slowly, dragging a large blanket behind her.
“For your foot,” she beamed proudly.
Craig chuckled and kissed her forehead.
“I feel like a new man.”
“It’s a superhero blanket.”
“I feel stronger already.” He scooted closer to her on the swing.
The little girl nodded her head vigorously.
“I knew it would work.”
Once the kids went back inside for the night, Becca rested her head on Craig’s shoulder.
“I realized something.”
“What’s that?” He kissed her temple gently.
“I thought healing meant not feeling afraid.”
He c****d his head to the side quizzically. She continued.
“But what if healing is feeling afraid…” She slid her hand into his.
“And knowing you’re not alone?”
- Writer
