Siggy found himself oddly distracted while constructing his latest piece for the upcoming Gala auction in his studio. He began placing a variety of artifacts into their various compartments, determining how to best create the narrative he desired. He found himself unable to focus. After a while he stepped away from the piece and sat down. He tried to analyze his situation.

It finally dawned on him. He was feeling joy, joy at something other than his art. It was new to him. In his life he was generally content and occasionally happy, but joy only engulfed him in his work. He realized that this overwhelming emotion was the result of his anticipation at seeing Adrianna, who was due to visit in about an hour. He smiled broadly and left his studio to prepare for her arrival.

It was nearly noon when Adrianna arrived. Siggy was sitting on his porch enjoying a beer. He jumped up to greet her after she exited her car and gave her a welcoming kiss that was enthusiastically returned.

"I'm so glad you could make it," he said.

"Wouldn't miss it."

"Would you like a beer?"

"Absolutely, and a tour of your compound. It's so beautiful and peaceful out here," Adrianna said brightly.

Siggy laughed as he handed her a bottle from a cooler on the porch, " 'Compound' makes me sound like a cult leader, I prefer kingdom."

"Kingdom it is, lead the way sire and you must narrate like a true tour guide."

"Very well," he grinned and gave Adrianna a peck on the cheek, "tour guide it is." He motioned to the first of the two houses, "This is the primary residence. It was built in the twenties and is actually quite clean and comfortable despite the owner's laziness.

"The house immediately to its left is nowhere as immaculate and serves as a storage area for my work...at least it did till it was shipped to New York."

They walked in the direction of the barn. Adrianna noticed the small structure that served as Siggy's abattoir, where his subjects often took their last breaths.
"And what is that little building?" She asked.

"That's primarily for storage and preparation of various artifacts for my work. I use a lot of volatile chemicals and don't like fumes in my studio... tanning chemicals and the like."

"That makes sense... you wouldn't want to pass out in the middle of making art. It would be awfully embarrassing," Adrianna replied cheerfully.

They stopped in front of the barn.

"This," Siggy said as he pointed to the structure, "is my studio. It was originally a tobacco barn where they used to hang the leaves to cure. There's still an aroma of tobacco inside after all these years. It cost a small fortune to convert. The hardest part was totally enclosing it so I could install air conditioning. As I'm sure you know, the summers can get brutal."

"Amen to that," Adrianna agreed.

They stepped inside and Siggy turned on the lights. Adrianna went wide-eyed, taking in the immaculate space filled with workshop tables, easels, and countless rows of artifacts, paints, fittings, and tools.

"Wow! This is amazing. You'd never guess how wonderful this space is from the outside. I'm duly impressed."

"And well you should be," Siggy chuckled, "it was a real pain in the ass to get right."

Adrianna walked to the large table at the center of the room where Siggy was preparing the piece for the New York auction. A smile spread across her face as she touched the various pieces. She stared at the tattooed image of the Predator's contorted face and ran her fingers across it.

"This is even more stunning than your photos suggest. This leather is amazing... so supple. Is it pigskin?"

"A pig, yes," Siggy replied, "you're very perceptive."

"More than most persons suspect," she answered brightly.

"Would you like to continue the tour?" Siggy asked.

"Lay on McDuff!" She chuckled.

"And damned be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'" He replied enthusiastically. "This way madame," Siggy said gesturing to the back door.

Adrianna followed him out the rear door. An ATV was parked in back.

"Would you join me on my chariot? I promise not to crash." Siggy asked.

"I wouldn't miss it." She seated herself behind Siggy and wrapped her arms around his waist. He turned the vehicle on and they headed back in the direction they had come along the back of the structures. He pointed to the small greenhouse behind the houses.

"That's a hobby of mine. I grow some exotic plants, a few orchids too."

"You are quite the Renaissance man."

"That's me, Siggyangelo. Hold on tight, I want you to see the pond."

They traveled for a short while along a dirt path until a large pond came into view. It was bordered by large patches of cattails and groupings of lily pads.

"It's lovely," Adrianna said, "Do you swim in it."

"Not if I value my extremities," Siggy laughed, "it's inhabited by a few large, rather nasty snapping turtles and a lot of pissed off water moccasins."

"I see your point."

"That's about it for the tour. Let's head back so I can cook you some dinner. I was thinking Fra diavolo with shrimp, I've been practicing and it hardly tastes terrible at all."

"How can I resist an offer like that?"

They turned around and headed in the direction of the main house. Halfway there, Adrianna pointed at a backhoe standing next to an opening in the ground.

"What's going on over there?" She asked.

Siggy got off the ATV and walked to the pit. Adrianna followed and looked down into the darkness.

"This is an old abandoned well I'm filling in. It's kind of dangerous now that it's just a hole in the ground. I don't want any neighbors or deer falling into it. I've been filling it a little at a time."

"I hope you check for corpses." Adrianna said pleasantly.

Siggy was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

"Of neighbors or deer, silly," Adrianna laughed.

Right," Siggy replied in relief, "I definitely think it's time for dinner."

"Sounds good," Adrianna pointed toward the house, "Onward, Chef!"

Despite a bad case of nerves and a substantial level of self doubt, the meal Siggy prepared was not only well received by Adrianna, but thoroughly enjoyed. The relief he felt was palpable and he found himself finally able to relax as the two of them enjoyed an after dinner coffee and cognac.

"Tell me something Adrianna," Siggy asked, "if you could do anything, what would that be?"

She thought for what seemed a great while before answering, "If I could do anything, I think I'd take a long trip around the world, visiting all the museums, natural and man-made wonders, and historical places I've read about my entire life. With as miserable as the world seems, it would be reassuring to see all the beauty and awe inspiring creations man is capable of. What about you?"

"I was going to say I would love to finally understand how the game of cricket works," Siggy joked, "but after hearing your answer, I have to admit your choice is much better."

"It's a date then," Adrianna chuckled, "I think you'd be a great travel companion. Let me ask you a question now."

"Shoot."

"It's about your art. It seems such a big part of you. When I was a therapist, a lot of the artists I worked with had reached a point where they felt drained and it became more work than passion. Do you think you'll ever reach that point?"

Siggy thought for a moment, "I've always considered art a calling... a mission, so in some ways, it's already work, but important work. I feel my art is coming to a head, at least in the direction I'm going. I'm ready to change a little... I already have actually, my last piece is really different from my earlier work. I'm planning a piece that's going to be a culmination of my journey. It's very ambitious, but also really exciting to me. I may take a break for a while if I complete it... maybe reevaluate my direction. It's hard to say."

"That sounds intriguing," Adrianna said, "Why all this reevaluation?"

"Honestly?"

"Honestly."

"Well," Siggy suddenly felt very vulnerable, "it's you. I've never felt any real connection to anyone in this way before. You make it very hard to be cynical. When I'm with you, life seems brighter, the world seems less dark."

Adrianna went silent for a moment, then leaned over the table and gave Siggy a gentle kiss.
"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, but I'd hate to think I made you give up art."

"Oh no, no, no," Siggy insisted, "I'm not giving up anything, just changing direction a bit. I am worried that I'd be a poor match for you though."

"Why, because you're not obsessed with sex?"

Siggy looked down in embarrassment, "Well, yes. I'd be willing to try though."

Adrianna smiled broadly, "Why don't we not worry about that right now. It's getting late, let's go up to your room and hold each other and tell each other sweet lies?"

Siggy smiled meekly, "I've prepared a nice room for you."

"I think one room will be plenty. I really want to spend the night in your arms, what do you think?"

"I think that would be wonderful."