Youth's Dew

Chapter 13

Joven

"No, you're not imagining things, Joven, there is something seriously going on in her brain. Have you tried talking to her? I'm not a marriage expert, but I think all this could be fixed with some open communication," Heif says, as we start our walk to the pond. My plan was a success, in keeping my parents from asking questions for tonight. However, I imagine I'll be getting questions thrown at me tomorrow, or at some point in the near future.

"She tore out of our house this afternoon, you would have thought a snake was chasing her," I add shuttering. I really, really, hate snakes "and then again at my parents' house, before I could even give her a kiss good-bye."

"I was surprised when you called earlier; but answer me this, why didn't you just use your Vision and find her?" Heif asks.

"My Vision gift is NOT for finding lost wives, but maybe next time I will," thinking maybe Heif is correct. I really didn't know what to do when Pann ran from the house. Being married is harder than I realized, and Dad likes to remind me that I have a lot to learn about women.

Arriving at the Pond, we both take our shoes off and climb in with our shirts and shorts on. I keep spare clothes at my parents' house, so I didn't have to backtrack to my home. I still feel uneasy; like tonight was some sort of marriage test, and I failed. That thing that women do to see if we know the right answer or correct thing to do. Well, duh; we don't! It's got to be some class they teach only females in school, probably titled, "How to Make a Grown Man Squirm." Walking her home, was probably the correct answer and would've been the polite thing to do.

I'm up to my chest in the hot water pond, when I realize my mistake...

"Well, at least you did something right," Heif laughs and points. "Your Purity Ring is gone, congrats! I'm not going to ask details, because I'm way too jealous," he winks at me.

Jealous of me? HAH! If he only knew where my ring rested right now. It's under her side of the bed in a circle of male frustration. Before I can respond with honesty and change the subject, we are thankfully interrupted. Sinking lower into the water, so no one else will be congratulating me on the ring being gone.

"Hey, Joven!" Karmony smiles at me and then adds sourly, "And Heif", and seems none too happy to see Heif. "I thought you'd be home, since you are a newlywed and all."

"Heading there next, just needed to give her some time alone to process all the things she learned today," I add, hoping I'm not lying. "Are you coming or going?"

"Oh, I'm going, just wanted to stop by and say hi," she moves to the edge to get out. I keep my eyes averted, but Heif seems to enjoy the view. Once she's out she looks back and waves, "See ya later," and walks off.

"I wouldn't mind throwing my Purity Ring at Karmony," Heif sighs and watches her walk away.

"Please hurry and do so," I say "and keep her at your house. She gives me those looks that are definitely not brotherly. I'm a married man now," I say. Or at least mostly married I mutter to myself and again hoping I'm not lying.

Saying good-bye to Heif, I begin a steady trudge to our house. Why aren't I skipping there? Easy, you don't know what's waiting for you. It's like a Daily Double question on Jeopardy, and not having a clue what the answer is. I can hear the game show theme music playing in my head. The buzzer is going to sound, as I stare at our front door, and I know I'm going down as the loser. Like I wagered everything; and lost.

The house is dark, so I quietly close the door, and tiptoe to our bedroom. What if she put the necklace on? What if she's waiting for me wearing nothing but one of my shirts? I start tiptoeing faster... yes! Yes! Yes! Then, I arrive at my door, pushing the door slowly open and realize my fantasy wishes are just that; fantasy. Walking over to her and looking down, I can just make out the contours of her face. My wife is so beautiful, it's almost painful not to touch her.

Taking my cell phone from my pocket, I kneel beside her bed, and turn on the flashlight. Lifting the bed skirt and confirm, once again, it's still there— Taunting me! I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed. Laying on my side I can see the side profile of her face. Cautiously I move closer and raise my arm up and then under, trying to slide it beneath her head. To think of all the things, I practiced or fantasized about it, when in reality, my greatest skill is sliding an arm under a sleeping wife. Either I'll be hit, screamed at, or her inner instinct will be to move in towards me. She kept her body mostly away from me last night, but did use her head on my arm for a pillow. Feeling brave as that long-ago hero of mine, King Author, I start to slide it farther down and under.

Success! And NOTHING is going to make me move my arm. Earthquake, fire or flood, I'm still not moving my arm. If I must hold my body back, at least my arm will get some action. Congrats left arm! I'm so rocking this husband thing.

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Author's note: Deep in Dewstone, the movers begin to shake things up...what do you think will happen next? Will Joven ever figure Pann out?

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