Paul was many things, but slow on the uptake wasn’t one of them.  He could, after all, tell when he wasn’t wanted.  That, and also any offered gestures of affection were in the reject bin.<br/><br/><i>Uh, not too sure about that slow bit, Old Man.  I’ve mentioned this before about her.  So yeah, you kinda are slow on the uptake.</i><br/><br/>Charlette didn’t quite snap at him, but it was fairly close when she asked for a little space.  Always one to oblige, he dropped his arms to his sides and backed away.  At the bathroom door, Paul turned to her and muttered something about the backyard.<br/><br/>Back in his bedroom, he slipped on a pair of cargo shorts and went to the shed on the side of the house.  His phone and keys were in one side pocket, while whatever clipping tools could fit in his other pockets, were stashed there.  The fresh air and sunshine were the perfect tonic for taking his mind off of Charlette.  Plants all around the house were in need of some pruning.<br/><br/><i>Ain’t gonna be that easy, Old Man.  Taking your mind off of Charlette, I mean.  Not the pruning plants part.</i>