“What exactly do you plan on doing with that love?”

“Did you ever make shadow puppets as a kid?”

“I don’t guess so? How do you make them?”

At this point Tina is looking at me with a mixture of disbelief and sadness.

“You have missed so much babe. We have got to remedy that. You’re childhood must have been so boring. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to make sure you got to experience all those things that kids are supposed to see and do. I will make up for it now though, ok?”

She is so cute when she’s like this and it just makes me love her even more. She not only loves me in the here and now, but she cares enough to try to make up for the hurts of the past. Things that happened before she even knew I existed. I am amazed by her more and more each day. If everyone had a love like this the world would be a better place for sure.

“Ok sweetheart. So, what are shadow puppets?  I mean, I think I can deduce from the name what they are, but how do you make them?”

“Well, first we have to turn off the lights.”

I reach over and turn off the lamp beside the bed bathing the room in complete darkness. Then, T turns on the flashlight she was holding and aims it toward the wall on her side of the bed.

“Ok, so now you hold the flashlight right here where it is and I’ll show you how to make a shadow puppet.”

I do as I’m told because I’ve learned over the years that it is the wisest choice when it comes to Tina Kennard. Once I have control of the light she brings her hands together in a weird way in front of the light. I’m not sure what exactly she is doing and it looks strange to me, but hey to each his own I guess.

“Now, look at the wall Bette. Do you see it?”

I look beyond her hands to the wall and there within the reflected light I can see the shadow of a bird. It looks like it’s flying. Then, she moves her hands into a different position and I can see the distinct outline of a rabbit. Wow, she is good at this. Oh, and there’s a butterfly! I can totally see how this would be a fun activity for a child, but at the moment seeing the smile that is illuminating her entire face, I can only think of one thing and there’s nothing childlike and innocent about it.

Before I could stop myself, the words slipped across my tongue and into the shadows…

“I can think of a much better use for those hands.”

I hear a sharp intake of breath and then the flashlight is turned off abruptly. As I hear it hit the floor beside the bed her lips capture mine and we enter into that holy sanctuary once again. Yes, I am a fan of shadow puppets for sure!

TBC…