Free The Stable Boy by Harmony Stalter

you, too,” I said. “It is not the same without you. I need you to come back to me.”
    “I can’t, baby,” he said, reaching for my hand.
    “But, I can’t live without you.”
    “Yes, you can,” he said. “You have Bob and Alison here and that young man in the back bedroom.”
    “I am so sorry that he is here in our house. I never meant to hurt or disappoint you.”
    “You haven’t. Why would you think that you did?”
    “Because I have broken our marriage vows by making love to him, I should have never given into it.”
    “Listen to me; you cannot live the rest of your life alone. I want you to move on. I will always be with you in life and love, but I cannot be with you on Earth anymore. You need to find love again. Open your heart to him, he is here for you.”
    “But, I still love you so much. I don’t know if I can.”
    “I love you, too. I always have and always will. You can love again. You will love again, with him.”
    “Oh, John, I don’t know.”
    “I know that he is younger and there are certain things he does that remind you of me. When that takes place, just know that is me giving my approval,” he said with a smile and a wink.
    “Okay, I will try to do this, one day at a time,” I said smiling at him.
    “Good,” he said. “Now, give me one last hug before I have to go.”
    “Okay,” I said, standing up. I wrapped my arms around John. It felt as if he was really there in the kitchen with me. The hug felt so real. I turned my head up to kiss him, but he was gone. I awoke to an empty bed. The sun was shinning in the bedroom window. I looked at the clock. It read 7:30am.
     
     
     
    4 Friday
     
     
    I got up. Going upstairs to shower, I noticed that the front door was open. I looked out of the screen door. I saw Josh feeding the chickens. That was generally my job. I went up stairs, showered and got dressed. I had to go get Alison, but I would make breakfast first. I went down stairs. Josh was eating a bowl of cereal.
                  “Hey,” I said. “I was just coming down to make breakfast.”
                  “That’s okay,” he said. “I know you have to go pick up Alison.”
                  “Yeah,” I said, concerned. There was something about the tone of his voice. “Are you okay?”
                  “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said. “You called out for John in your sleep last night.”
                  “I’m sorry. I dreamt of him,” I said.
                  “I am sorry what took place between us made that happen. I will understand if you do not want to continue on. “
                  “No, I do,” I said. “I know that this going to sound weird, but he told me to open my heart to you.”
                  “He did?”
                  “Yes, Josh, I think I am finally ready to live again.”
                  “That’s great to hear,” he said with a smile. “We can slow down. I promise not to come on so strong.”
                  “You were not coming on too strong. I like the pace we are at.”
                  “Okay,” he said, standing up. He came over to me. Pinning me the counter, he kissed me. As his tongue danced with mine, the phone rang, putting a stop to our passion. We looked at each other and laughed.
                  “It’s always something,” he said with a smirk.
                  “I am going to say this is Alison,” I said as I reached for the receiver. “Hello.”
                  “Hello, I am ready to blow this popsicle stand. The doctor said I can leave. He is doing the paper work now.”
                  “Okay, I am on my way,” I said as Josh ran his tongue across my neck. My knees buckled.
                  “I will be ready when you get here,” she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. It was as if she knew what