“I know! He’s basically living off of mom and dad. He hasn’t had a job in over two years. But we don’t talk about that,” Jane nodded. “And Howard is a preacher of some wacko church.”


      “Yeah, that sounds about right for him,”


      “Tell me about it. They preach a lot but do very little good for the community. He and the boys come by from time-to-time but their views are too extreme,”


      “This coming from the cult member,” Mark teased.


      “Well, what are ya gonna do,” she paused. “Did you hear about Kenneth?”


      “No, I haven’t heard from him in years. What’s he up to?” 


      “He was working with Doctor’s Without Borders in Cambodia when he contracted some strange disease and he was returning to the States for treatment but he never made it. They left him there,” she said evenly, void of feelings.


      Mark couldn’t breathe. The only sibling, his closest brother, who had reached out to him while living in Montréal was dead. Left somewhere in a Cambodia jungle like he had no family.


      “You say it like he was nothing,” Mark’s voice was deeper now.


      “No,” Jane said peacefully. “I was proud of him. He was doing what he loved without a care in the world. In his short time, he saw things that I couldn’t even imagine. You two were a lot alike in that respect. Fearless. Never afraid to try new things; to step out on your own. I mean, hell, I got married staight out of college, had a flock of kids and joined a cult! How’s that for conformity?” she laughed, Mark followed. 


      “Why didn’t mom and dad tell me?” 


      “They probably figured you already knew. You were listed as his beneficiary. He didn’t have much but it is yours,” 


      “No one contacted me,” Mark fought to register his thoughts. “He really was alright, wasn’t he?”


      “Yes, he was. And so are you,”


      They talked, making up for lost time. Mark talked about graduating college in Canada, his relationship with Sydney and told her about his work, avoiding most of the details about flogging and submission. Jane talked about graduating, marriage, kids and her faith’s stance on nonviolence and acceptance. Before long it seemed like out times. Nothing unexpected had occurred in either’s life. Each one older yet each one unchanged.


      “We’re back,” Sr. shouted from the front yard. Sydney crawled from the truck, shaking her hands and covered in blood. “We’ve got to get you cleaned up. Go around back,”


      Mark and Jane came down the porch.


      “What happened to you?” Mark asked frantically, searching Sydney from head to toe.


      “Relax, Mark,” Sr. prompted. “Your girlfriend is a natural,”


      “What!”


      “Yeah, turns out I have a knack for killing defenseless animals. It was awesome! I still can’t skip a rock but I can gut a fish like nobody’s business,”


      “Dad, what have you done to my woman?” he laughed, looking at the bloody mess that was Sydney. “God, if your assistants could see you now!” he dodged her kiss.


      “I didn’t do anything at all,” Sr. grinned for the first time. “She taught me a few things though,”


      “Like what?” Jane asked.


      “That’s between us. Come on Sydney, let’s hose you down. You can’t go inside like that,” Sr. walked around the side of the house while the hired hand unloaded the truck.


      “Sydney, I want to you meet my sister Jane,” Mark said.


      “Hi Sydney. Mark had told me so much about you.”


      “It’s a pleasure, Jane. Are you staying for dinner?” Sydney asked, stripping out of her shoes and handing them to Mark for disposal.


      “No, we have eaten and I have to get the kids home,”


      “We you come tomorrow? I should be spic and span by then,”


      “Yeah, I will,” Jane nodded, impressed with Mark’s choice.


      “Good! Well I’d better go before Sr. comes looking for me. It was nice to meet you, Jane. See you tomorrow,” she trotted around the house.


      “I like her,” Jane said, tucking her arm in Mark’s, walking him farther into the yard. “Has she met Cece?” 


      “They met last night. We had a bonfire,”


      “Does she know everything? Have you told her about the baby? Jane dropped her voice.


      Mark became tense and exhaled. “No,” 


      “Why not?”


      “I don’t know. Guilt.”


      “You shouldn’t feel guilty, Mark. There was nothing you could do. We all make our own choices.”


      “I know but that doesn’t change anything. I feel guilty,” he confessed. They walked along in silence. “Doesn’t anyone else know what happened?”


      “No, just you, Cece, and I,”


      “Keep it that way. I need time to talk to Sydney.


      “You love her, don’t you?” Jane asked.


      “So much, it hurts,”