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When Dee cli swapped her button-up shirt for a Grateful Dead concert tee, he pasted on a smile “You lost? I have a map if you need it”
She pulled out several large Tupperware containers from the back seat and walked up onto the porch “You need fattening up, Hettler” She passed hi for an invitation
“Come on in” Ben followed her into the kitchen of his cabin, the screen door bouncing shut behind him “You know, I can feed myself”
Dee grunted and opened the fridge “It would help to have so”
“Okay, okay Thank you Have a beer and relax”
Already twisting the cap off a bottle, Dee smiled “Don’t mind if I do” She headed back onto the porch
Ben shuffled around his impressive condiment collection and container of chili he’d defrosted and had only picked at Beer took up e He neatly stacked the Tupperware containers and closed the door after grabbing himself a bottle
The cabin was basically one roo off to the side His couch orn and the old wildlife paintings faded He really did need to spruce the place up, but…later Maybe after the su at the rin
He paused at the wobbly kitchen table, fingertips gliding over the heavy books he’d piled there, guilt and deep need battling No, he wouldn’t let hi
On the porch, Dee rocked in the other chair, which was newer and still had a glea of party mix out of a canvas tote by her feet and tore it open “I didn’t only bring healthy crap I’m not a complete monster”
Chuckling, Ben eased into his rocker and reached into the bag for a handful of cheese twists, nacho chips, and pretzels “Thanks”
He gazed out at the trees The sun was still high in the early evening sky, the air cal suht of another lonely winter in the cabin constricted his chest
“How are you holding up?” Dee asked
“Fine I’d be better if I could get back to work This leave of absence Brad ordered is ridiculous”
She sipped her beer “Well, I don’t agree with the schht on this one I know you don’t want to hear it, but you need soh You’re getting paid to relax So relax already You’ll be back in no time”
“I don’t need to relax!” He realized he was al, and took a deep breath
Dee pushed up her round glasses on her nose “Clearly”
Ben had to laugh, the pressure easing “Okay, so I’ nothing Any exciting gossip from the office?”
“You irl and you and her father heroically—if somewhat foolishly—went on a rescue mission?”