Chapter 42

He put on his shoes, got a lightweight jacket from his closet, and went back downstairs. Merrick was waiting for him by the door to the back yard.

* * * *

They walked, silently at first, through the garden. Most of the summer flowers had gone to seed, but the asters and mums and marigolds were in full bloom, brightening the yard, and, obviously, Merrick thought, Ryan’s mood as well from the smile on his face.

“Do you have any ideas for what you want to tackle next?” Merrick asked.

“If you mean drawings, a few. Something relating to Christmas, I think. I haven’t solidified them, though.”

“Snow scenes?”

“Perhaps. God, Merrick, I’m finally recovering, to put it mildly, from the intensity of creating the monster series. I have to get out of that mode first.”

“I know, love.” Merrick paused to kiss Ryan’s temple. “I don’t want you getting bored, so I figured if we could come up with something.”