While Jonah was gone, it was a good time to touch base with Margaret. It had been weeks since we'd talked last. So I called her and asked if she wanted some stuff from my garden. She was enthusiastic about that possibility.
She came over in the evening, after a long day of work. She had her business clothes on, and we sat on the porch at the little table. I had cut up little baby carrots and summer squash I just picked, and made a dip with my homemade yogurt cheese and lots of cilantro, also freshly picked.
"You look so uncomfortable. You want something to change into?" I offered.
"That does sound tempting," she replied.
"Come on, let's find you something."
My cotton dress looked a little incongruous on her - not her style at all - but at least it was comfortable.
Then we settled back in at the table.
"Iced tea?" I offered.
"Please.
"So," she ventured diplomatically. "How are things with you and, uh, Jonah?"
I grinned. "They're good. Really good. I took your advice, and we went grocery shopping together today, and it was - fine."
"My advice?" she questioned.
"Well, yeah. You know - when I saw you last, we talked about not hiding my relationship with Jonah - being open about it. And that's what we're starting to do - slowly."
"Ah, I see," she said.
Well, I suppose it hadn't exactly been advice. It had been more of a conclusion on my part. But since that time, progress had been made, because I was now acting on what had only been an idea at that time. I felt good about that.
"We went camping," I said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. It was really wonderful. Jonah made a weapon and went hunting, and picked wild plants, and cooked it all for our dinner."
"Hmmm. Nice."
"Yes. It was."
Suddenly, I felt like I didn't have much to say. How could I put into words all the things that had changed because of Jonah? I didn't know if she could relate to any of them. She had an occasional dinner with a local bachelor - one of the psychotherapists in private practice, or a doctor from the little hospital, or the guy who owned the downtown bookstore. All very conventional, and in my opinion, boring.