The class just finished, and my breakfast rush has died down, so I have time to run outside. As I jog across the street, it strikes me how Brenden and I haven’t really been faking anything for Elise and Grant lately. This has all begun to feel natural. I’m going over there because I can’t pass up the opportunity to see him, even if it’s only for a few minutes, but I’d like to say hi to them too.

Brenden mentioned to me that it’s weird how they’re still here, but after the memorial for April last week, he’s seemed much less on edge about having them around. Maybe bawling his eyes out released some of his anxiety.

“Hey!” he calls out, smiling big when he spots me approaching their little group. Although they all have a light sheen of sweat on their faces, they seem happy.

“Hi,” I say. Ever since the memorial, too—or really, since that next morning of slow, intimate sex—I get the urge to tell him I love him every time I see him. But obviously, this isn’t the right moment. I’ll find it soon. “It looked like you guys didn’t do too bad out here.”

Standing behind May, Elise puts her hand on her granddaughter’s shoulder. “This one had no trouble at all. I had to skip a couple poses, but it was fun.”

I eye Brenden’s body appreciatively and ask, “Think you’re gonna be a yoga convert?” I don’t want to be dragged to any classes, but I wouldn’t object to seeing him in these pants more often.

He pulls a face. “Doubtful.”

“Oh my gosh, did you see Dad fall over?” May asks gleefully.

“Hey! I did not fall over!” he counters indignantly. “I very gracefully decided to lie down for a moment, that’s all.”

Sarcastically, I tell him, “Yeah, that’s exactly what it looked like.” Because I was lucky enough to catch it.

His huff is cute, and I can’t help but reach for him, tugging him in against my side. He glances around us before relaxing. There are still some people lingering with yoga mats, and others milling around the green, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve let my guard down a lot when it comes to being with him.

I don’t plan on engaging in any major PDA, obviously. But I find myself always wanting to touch him now, and since he seems to love it when I do, I’m not going to worry too much about what the nosy townspeople might think.

It feels natural to let my hand rest on his hip. Natural to chat with Elise and Grant while Brenden tips his head onto my shoulder.

And maybe it’s crazy that it only took us a few weeks to get here. Or maybe this has been ten years in the making.