Free Tragic Renewal by Marlina Williams Page B

legs he moped the days away. Twice a day they went to the house to feed the horses and Ziggie as he waited for answers to what would happen to them and the farm. Though he trusted the dog around Grayson, Ziggie refused to leave his home. When they visited Ziggie would momentarily perk up at the sight of Grayson, but before they left would always be back to moping. Noah knew he ate the food that was left, but seemed to be losing weight from stress. The dog’s too human reaction to grief was hard to watch and Noah hoped something would change soon for the big dog.
    The previous day Brianna Smoth had knocked on his door. With excitement she recounted that Cara’s friend Harper was coming to town, but Harper didn’t yet know that Cara had left everything to her in the will.
    Cara had mentioned her best friend to him once while he was helping her replace some rotted wood on her porch. Her eyes shone with love when she spoke of Harper. Her voice hardened into scary iron when she talked about Harper’s philandering ex-husband and his manipulative control over her during their ill-fated marriage. She told him of the lost babies making his heart hurt at the thought of losing one child, much less three in that way. That evening he gathered Grayson close and allowed him to sleep in the big bed. His imagination ran with the torture Harper must have gone through with the first signs of early labor, and she knew she would lose another baby.
    When he saw her hunched on the bench in Duck Pond Park he wanted to stop and comfort her. He wanted to introduce himself and tell her how much he enjoyed having Cara for a neighbor, and how sorry he was that her ex-husband didn’t treat her better. His inner shy boy stopped him from doing any of those things, but with her possibly moving in next door he would have a chance to make up for it.
    Noah’s eyes drifted down when Grayson squirmed. “Daddy, let’s go now, what are we waiting for?”
    Noah bopped Grayson on the crown of his head with a gentle bump. “Alright kiddo, I’ll race you down. Ready, set, go…”
    Grayson shot from his standing position, then turned with shining eyes and stuck out tongue. “Ha ha, I win, see you on the bottom.” His head vanished as he climbed into the tube face down.
    Noah rushed to the slide in time to see the bottom of Grayson’s mismatched socks. He listened for the thump before climbing into the entrance. “Here I come, get out of the way or you’ll be squashed like a bug.” His voice echoed through the tube and bled out the other end.
    “Go daddy, go. I’m out of the way.” The return response was almost immediate.
    Noah shoved out and raced down the tunnel, static crackling around him as his speed created friction on the plastic slide. Grayson stood to the side of the mattress as Noah raced through the opening and plopped into the mattress with a soft thump.
    Grayson clapped his hands and cheered his dad’s descent. Noah stood and scooped the whooping boy into his arms and hugged him tight to his chest, swinging him round and round.
    Grayson’s endless string of giggles was infectious as Noah placed him on the floor.
    “That’s it little man let’s head next door so we can feed those starving animals. If we don’t get there soon they’re liable to break down our door and eat us,” Noah teased.
    “Uh uh Daddy, you’re fibbing on me. Horses eat grass, and Ziggie loves me.” Grayson waggled his eyebrows. “Though he might take a bite out of you.” He let out a raucous snort and took off running for the stairs.
    Noah caught him before he reached the first riser. He scooped up the little boy and placed him on his shoulders. Grayson’s hands snaked down to grip Noah around the throat as they made their way up the stairs.
    “Faster daddy faster.” When Noah’s pace slowed, Grayson kicked his feet like he was spurring on a reluctant horse.
    “You’re wearing me out, let me walk for minute. Actually, I have a better idea how about we