Chapter 179

And speaking of my brand new wife, Johanna came into the garage and sat on the washing machine with a glass of juice in her hand, to watch me work. Skinning rabbits was not very difficult. The girls’ screams and laughter came to me as clear as crystal; Kaylee was supervising them while they bathed.

“How’s that going?” she asked me.

“In a moment they will be ready.”

“Brilliant. Luke just discovered he didn’t have charcoal for the grill and went to get a bag. Mirko went out with him. The vegetables are cut, there is fresh lemonade…”

I responded with a good-natured grunt and continued with my business.

Never in my life had I felt so comfortable behaving like an ordinary person, in an activity as ordinary as a dinner with friends. I threw a handful of entrails into a garbage bag, after removing the heart and liver. The smell of fresh blood was strong, but not enough to cover the scent of Johanna’s pregnancy.

I smiled unconsciously. And to think that a