reaching dusk (WATTY Awards 2013)

chapter 5

We walked at a slow human pace through the canopy of willowy trees that covered the path leading away from this new house. We had decided to take a walk to clear our heads from the extraordinarily awkward afternoon that had transpired earlier. Jacob looked content as he twined his long fingers in mine as we walked.

I couldn't get over the feeling I had when I was with him like this. It was so new but it felt incredibly familiar all at the same time. I loved the heat from his hand on mine, how small my hand felt in his, even the silence of the forest around us. We were all alone, free and clear from parental danger, and caught up in our own world. We continued down this path for nearly a half hour until it forked off to a small quarry just off the river.

Jacob let go of my hand as he began to climb up one of the steep, rocky cliffs that stretched out over the river. Within minutes he reached the top, easily scaling the surface, jumping effortlessly from one dangerously slanted rock to another, until he reached a flat precipice. He smiled widely, clearly pleased with himself, and held his massive hand out for me.

I narrowed my eyes and crouched down low resting my fingertips on the damp, mossy ground. I sailed through the air, closing the distance between the bare ground and the precipice easily in one bound. I landed upright on the balls of my feet, stopping just short in front of him.

He smiled admirably, but otherwise ignored my grander display of agility. He grabbed my hand pulling me up close against him. He was easily two full heads taller than me, but he managed to bend our bodies so that he could stare directly in my eyes. As much as I wanted to be near him, to feel his arms around me, I still wasn't quite used to the closeness. It was embarrassing with all the errant thoughts that were going through my head. I wanted him to know me and know how I felt about him, but I wasn't quite ready to relinquish the more ardent feelings that would be transferred without my permission.

I saw his body stiffen slightly at my hesitation but he didn't say anything. He let me go gently, letting his finger tips graze against mine as he sat down on the flat surface of the cliff, and patted the ground in front of him, motioning for me to sit down. I sat down between his elongated legs, facing the water, and he wrapped his arms around my shoulders as he rested his cheek against the top of my head.

"It's so pretty here," I said staring out over the river. It was overcast but the setting sun cast a sleek, scarlet luster over the river. He tightened his grip around me and let out a deep breath.

"Yes, but that's not what has my attention," he said grabbing a stray lock of my hair and twisting it around his finger. I chuckled under my breath nervously.

"It feels weird that it was that easy." I admitted changing the subject.

"What was that easy?" he asked innocently but I could tell he knew what I meant.

"Uh, Mom and Dad....you and me?" I said skeptically.

"Oh that. I told you it wouldn't be as bad as you thought. You really need to learn to trust me." His tone had a superior timber at first, but then it changed, giving off an almost placating resonance "I always have your best interest at heart, you know?"

I sighed. "I know you do," I admitted leaning my head against his shoulder. "Why is that, exactly? I mean, I think I know, but I never really asked you.....from your perspective, anyway."

"Why? Does it bother you?" he seemed genuinely hurt by my question. I turned my head slightly so that I could look at him out of the corner of my eye.

"No, not at all....it's just that I have heard the...the theory of imprinting from my father's perspective, but never from you." I explained. "I'm curious, that's all."