home with columns. No one knew Benjamin Creed there. The house had an old allure to it with a touch of whimsy. The place had been turned into a doctor’s office, based on the signage in the front yard. A pang of guilt sprang within her for having led the charge. Aries had run into another dead end as he called it, while pursuing more information about his father. She glanced down at her Fitbit watch.
“I still want to get some more steps in. Walk with me. Let’s take a little tour.” Aries glanced back at his parked truck as if he were itching to slide back into that driver’s seat and hightail it. Then, he took her hand and they went down the sidewalk together.
The birds chirped high in the trees, and one could hear faint music from passing cars. Groups of families and friends milled about, chatting and enjoying the day. They passed mansion after mansion, each impressive and built to last. They enjoyed the sights of verdant lawns that went for days and lush landscaping fit for a feature on a horticultural show.
“It’s nice out here,” the man finally said, breaking the silence.
“It sure is. Such a beautiful day… Aries, I’m sorry that your search for information on Benjamin’s life has been so elusive. Don’t give up though.” She patted his back. The muscles beneath his shirt were so hard and broad, her mind began to wander about what lay beneath that cotton material before she steered herself back on track. “Nobody can live a life and not leave an imprint, especially a person as active as Benjamin. We’re not ghosts. Hell, even ghosts leave evidence. You just have to look and listen. Not with your eyes and ears, but with your heart and soul.” He squeezed her hand.
“You say some real strange shit sometimes.” She burst out laughing, not sure what to make of his sharp words. “You’ve got a funny wisdom about you, too. I don’t care about hearing it right now. All those cute little quotes, things written to make somebody like me feel better. I don’t need it. I figure it’s part of who you are though. You like to make bad shit better.”
“Who wouldn’t want to make bad shit better?”
He tossed her a glance. “Me. I don’t give a shit about making bad shit better, unless it’s for someone I care about. I don’t even waste my energy anymore. People are so fuckin’ ungrateful, Lauren.” She couldn’t exactly argue with that. “Nice, clever people like you are rare. Usually super smart folks are arrogant and get on people’s nerves. They’re jerks, just like me. You’re not like that. Well, if you are, you hide it pretty well.”
“I can see you’re in a fabulous mood.”
He smirked and pointed to a fish-shaped fountain in someone’s yard as it spit out water from a wide open, repugnant stone mouth. And yet it, too, was somehow whimsical and held beauty.
“Folks like you kinda make me sick, all that happy mantra shit.” He sucked his teeth, sounding a bit disgusted. “But your optimism is uplifting all the same.”
She chuckled at his compliments wrapped up in rudeness.
“You’re so charming, Aries, with your prickly personality, devilish good looks, and penetrating snake eyes.”
The man paused, stared at her, and burst out laughing so hard, it rattled her. He leaned in close, deposited a soft and sweet kiss on her lips, and they headed on, like two old, crotchety lovers. She found comfort in that. The instant familiarity. Something about his energy was swathed around her heart like that red shawl.
“In my time on this Earth, people like you have been proven liars, but you don’t know it.”
“I beg your pardon! I’m not someone who runs around here making up shit and—”
“Don’t be offended, just listen. You’re lying to yourself is what I mean. I’m not happy all the time. But you know it. You’re not happy all the damn time, but don’t show it to anyone unless you trust them, and it’s hard for you to trust people. You’re covering hurt and pain with a big ass smile, or maybe you get revenge in your own covert, sweet way. I prefer to be up front with my vengeance and retaliation.”
“Vengeance is mine. Thus said the Lord,” she countered with a smirk.
“‘But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.’—Romans 8:10. That means if Christ is in us all,