“You’re having a panic attack. It’s okay. Nothing is happening to you.”
“Easy for you to say. My heart’s trying to escape.” Dunc winced and ran a hand over his chest.
“Close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly.” Amanda began touching Dunc’s face. She was trying to relax him with one hand on his forehead while the other traced his features. “Think about something that makes you happy.”
Dunc sighed, and after a few minutes, the trembling stopped. He relaxed and laid there, enjoying Amanda’s attention. “I am just the greatest catch,” Dunc muttered with a scowl opening his eyes to look up at Amanda.
“Dunc, you’re going to have another one if you don’t stop that.” Amanda lightly slapped the side of his head. He winced and grabbed her hand, then he smiled and kissed her fingers. “You need to remain calm and relaxed.”
“That’s hard to do, Amanda.” Dunc scowled and moved her hand back up to the side of his head. “Very hard. I don’t want to talk about it. Today is hard. They’re in my house doing things, and I don’t know what they are doing, but that’s my house.” He began trembling again but only briefly.
“Your mother loves you, Dunc. What do you think they’re doing that’s going to be so awful? Decorate, bake you a cake, make you a nice dinner? Jump out and yell Happy Birthday!”
Dunc stared up at Amanda with a frown. “Amanda, my father died on my 6th birthday. He died because of me.”
“Oh.” That made everything click together. Amanda felt terrible for her part today. His mother meant well, but she didn’t seem to understand how traumatic this day was for Dunc. “Don’t talk about it today. Tell me another day?”
“I will.” Dunc sighed. “Thank you, Amanda.” He pushed himself up and leaned against the tree, turning his attention to her. He took her in his arms and pulled her against his chest. “I am sorry about today. This is not the best of me.”
“I understand.” Amanda settled into his arms. “But you need to see someone about the panic attacks.”
“Maybe.” Dunc shrugged. “Or I just keep you around.” He managed a smile and kissed the top of Amanda’s head. Dunc squeezed her and inhaled. Her unique smell was always so comforting. Girls smelled good in general. Amanda smelled divine.
“Are you okay now?”
“I think so.” Dunc sighed, concentrating on Amanda. If he could keep his focus on her and not let it waver, he might be able to make it through to the end of the day. “What time do I get to go home?”
“7.”
“That’s ugh… 8 hours from now!” Dunc threw his head back against the tree trunk. “What are we going to do for 8 hours?”
“Oh, I don’t know. This is nice.” Amanda closed her eyes for a moment and listened to his heart beating. It had slowed down to an average pace. “Relax here for a little while. Then we’ll have lunch and go do something fun I have planned for us.”
“What did you plan?” Dunc sounded excited.
“You’ll see.”
***
Amanda couldn’t afford a fancy lunch. But she could get soup and sandwiches from one of the little downtown restaurants for the two of them. Dunc didn’t say anything or try to pay for it. However, Amanda missed him shaking his head no to the server when he took her card.
From there, they spent a little bit of time walking and wasting time. Amanda assumed that since it was Wednesday afternoon, things wouldn’t be that busy, and they weren’t. Dunc and Amanda were alone. They talked and enjoyed each other’s company.
At 3 PM, Amanda took Dunc into a little art shop that did painting parties. Dunc was a little startled when he realized what they were doing. He was a professional painter, so he had never had any interest in them, but he would too if Amanda wanted to do it.
They were given a selection of subjects, then blank canvases and pencils to begin with. Dunc didn’t see what Amanda chose, and Amanda didn’t see what he picked out. They set up on easels next to each other, and Amanda went off to buy a glass of red wine.
Dunc was already done penciling in the image he was supposed to create, which wasn’t quite what he had chosen. He was more than capable of doing what he wanted freeform and had decided to paint this one for Amanda. For an artist herself, the walls in her house had very little art.
Amanda sat next to him, sipping her wine. “This is for fun, Dunc.” She grinned.
“Do you know how to paint?” Dunc was already beginning on his. “You’re a graphic artist, so I assume you can paint.”
“Graphic Designer.” Amanda winced. “I haven’t painted in years, and I honestly never found my style. Not like you.” Amanda leaned over to look at Dunc’s canvas. “I mean, look at you. You’re not even using a grid!”
“I always hated using grids. So confining.” Dunc smiled at Amanda. “Stop talking to me and work on your piece. You’re the one who wanted to do this. Show me what you got. I look forward to seeing it.”
“I may end up drinking wine and watching you paint.” Amanda sipped her wine and stared at the blank canvas.
***
Two hours later, Amanda found Dunc sitting on his stool with his painting turned away from Amanda. He didn’t want her seeing the finished piece. Amanda didn’t mind as he watched her put the finishing touches on hers. Her painting wasn’t bad. It was a simple butterfly with purple and blue wings and golden pinpoints scattered over the wingtips. It was fluttering against a golden
