Work done,
     steaks searing on cast iron—
                            corn,
                    baked potato, (butter only, please!)
       simple plates that tasted
           like home for a night.

We _talked_.

Talked a lot.

Even Coal got his share of the spotlight.

Biggest Loser documentary
        playing in the background,
        but the real story?

        Us, telling ours.
        (Did I mention we talked?)

Later, Irby’s—
       just to give Coal familiar ground.
       One drink, (turned into two)
       short walk,

       another thread stitched in.

Then—
     the classic Mari exit.

Forgot her phone.
I waited downstairs,
  twenty minutes,
                 maybe?

  until a popcorn craving pulled me upstairs.

She came back
    as the kernels popped,
    slipped in like she does,
    took two bites,
    gave no verdict,
    grabbed her phone,

    and disappeared into the night.

Two bites of popcorn—
    barely a snack,

    but more than enough to leave me smiling.