L’amor che move ‘l sole e l’altre

THAT NIGHT I picked up some pizza on the way home. Good thing I did, too, because there was no dinner. I came home to find Gwen wandering through the house, chanting, and waving a bunch of incense around.

“Gwenny? Baby? Whatcha doing?” I sat the pizza down and turned on the oven. “Just to let you know, setting the house on fire voids our insurance policy.”

Gwen marched into the kitchen, a smoldering bundle of sticks in her hand. “I’m not setting the house on fire!” She tossed the sticks into the sink and turned on the water. “I’m burning sage.”

I shoved the pizza into the oven. “Oh. I prefer oregano myself, but burnt sage works, too.”

She fought a smile. “Burning sage purifies a house, Sam.”

“Doesn’t Lysol do that, too? And without the risk of burning the house down?”

“Sam,” she groaned and rolled her eyes. “Sage purifies the house from spirits, Sammy.”

I eyed her. “There’s a spirit?”

She flushed, her cheeks a bright red. “I know, I know… I kind of owe you an apology, Sam. The house is haunted. Way haunted.”

I got a beer out and chugged half of it. “Cool. Think we can make some money on it this Halloween?”

“I’m serious, Sam!” She flipped her hair and folded her arms. “This morning, I was doing my shavasana when I felt water dripping on me. I opened my eyes, and there was this girl… she was all wet… ” She paused for a moment, choking back tears. “Something bad happened to her, Sammy. We have to help her.”

My eyes caught a movement on the patio. The girl stood on the patio, her back to me.  “Can we have pizza first? I do better helping dead people when I’m on a full stomach.”

Gwen shook her head. “Yes. Of course.” She came over and hugged me. “Oh, baby, it’s been a bad day. I’m so sorry. I should have seen it… and now I forgot to say welcome home.”

I kissed the top of her head. “You said it when you assured me you weren’t burning down the house.”

“Welcome home.” I felt her smile. “Thank you for the pizza.”

“Thank you for marrying me.”

She smiled up at me and gave me a quick peck. “Best decision I’ve ever made.”

I chased her lips and gave her more than a peck to show her I agreed.