Part 2

The alarm clock buzzer was horrendous, but the blazing sunlight that invaded their room was measurably worse. "Why did we get a room on the east side of the Inn?", she wondered. "We stayed up too late and drank a bit too much, well I drank too much." As her thoughts cleared she heard Charles open the shower curtain. Rolling out of bed she heard him turn the sink water on to brush his teeth. "God, how could he be up so early?" She had the alarm set for seven thirty, she knew he had been up at least since six thirty. He always drinks two cups of coffee while he had a cigarette before he took a shower. So, she knew he was at least a hour into his day. He shut the water off, and a moment later the door to the bathroom swung open. With one of the towels provided by the inn wrapped around his waist, "Morning babe." "Always modest," she thought disappointedly. Charles asked, "You hungry baby?", as he motioned toward the table next to the window. "Damn he did get up early." He had gotten her favorite breafkast for her, soft scrambled eggs, with garlic, red and orange bell peppers, mushrooms, and cheddar. Complete with bacon, sausage, toast with black currant jam, and a big glass of orange juice. Across from her, three hard boiled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and a nice thick rib-eye, rare of course. She could almost hear it moo. He had also gotten salt, pepper and Tabasco. "He never forgets the Tabasco. He know I like it, and always made sure I've got some. He loves it too, but if it was just him he wouldn't have bothered to buy a bottle. It's a sweet gesture." "How in the fuck do you get up so damn early?" "Just do." "You're being short and difficult." He glanced at her, "You're being vague, and evasive." "How so?!" "Where we goin?" "Not sure." "Rest my case." They finished breafkast in silent admiration.
. She shuddered and then relaxed as the water rand down her body, "It's good and cold, nice." She loved a cold shower, in fact she never even touched the hot when she showered. That was one reason her and Charles couldn't take a shower together. They tried that once, he takes hot showers and her cold. It wasn't a good mix, warm wasn't cold enough for her, nor hot enough for him. And, the physicality of it didn't help either. He wasn't huge but big enough to make showers together nearly impossible. Laughing at the thought him eating his brefkast with nothing on but a towel. Also, knowing that he would be dressed and ready to go when she got out made her chuckle even louder. "What's so funny in there? I cleaned the drain out." "Why is he so modest? Not like he has anything to hide from me. I've seen him naked, had him in me. Why doesn't he want me to see him nude except before we make love?" Wondering, she turned off the shower. "Fuck he has nothing to hide, I've seen the scars and know some of the pain they brought upon him." Brushing her teeth, "He has nothing to be ashamed of." She spit out the toothpaste and rinsed her mouth out, then rinsed out the sink. Looking into the mirror, "What? Why is he so modest around me. No, he's not all lean and muscular, a bit chubby maybe. Aw, hell, I don't know."
. He tossed the keys to her, "I guess you'll be driving." He closed the trunk as she answered, "But, of course. You don't know where we are going, now do you?" "The real question here is. Do you?" "I will when we get there, and so will you."
. "You're on KCUF radio. This is Lester Knight on Sunday morning. Heavy Metal hits, kick ass attitude. Here's your morning dose of Black Sabbath. A track about congress for ya here." Playing air guitar he gave voice to emulate the opening chords. Singing, "Generals gathered in their masses....just like witches at black masses.." She laughed. Being one of his favorites, he actually tried, half assed, to sing with it in harmony. Not goofing off. "Evil minds that plot destruction...sorcerers of deaths construction.." He was fairly decent at this one, he still couldn't sing though.
. Turning north on highway 71 off highway 9. He stopped mid chorus of Hell Yea's "You Outta Know". "Goin to the dam?" "Yea." "You sure you want to?" "No." "I'm here." "I know."
. Driving down the ramp to the south side parking area of the dam, her heart sank. He could tell, he saw it in her face. He wasn't sure if she was ready for this or not, but they were here and what is, is. Standing in front of the car. "Are you ready for this?" "No, but I need to." The area was fairly unpopulated for a Sunday, but it was late morning and she supposed most had left for lunch and to clean their morning catch. Cats didn't bite much during mid-day, so few lingered. "You go ahead and do what you need to, I'll wait here." "The hell you will!" "O...k.., Isa comin massa." "Sorry, I want you with me." "Ready then?" "No," she somberly responded. She took his hand and led him to the retainer wall near the dam. Not much had changed since she had last been here. The hurricane fence, about ten feet tall, was meant to keep the idiots from falling in the river thirty feet below. Still some managed. A couple of men, looked to be mid-fifties, were set up near where the wall sloped down past the spillway to the river. They reminded her of her dad. This is where he had died.