I’ve just finished stacking a fallen-down section of woodpile when a friend texts and asks if I’m interested in a twilight walk. Heck, yes. With my thumb and fingernail, I snip a rose and carry the fragrant pink beauty cupped in my hand as I walk towards my friend’s house, trailing tender petals.

We meet at a halfway point between our house. To my surprise and delight, she eats the rose.

In the lingering light — June’s gold and green beauty — we walk along the rail trail and pause at the bridge over the river. Leaning on the railing, we talk about all the things — family and money and loneliness — while the river runs over and around the boulders and bends around the forest, heading through the village.

Darkness drifts down when I finally head home through the scent of clipped lawns, the roses along the Catholic parsonage, the seduction of garlic from the downtown restaurant, its door propped open, a woman rubbing a cloth over the bar.

Vermont June. Mighty, magical month.

And…. book launch for Call It Madness, this Tuesday, 7 p.m., hosted by the Galaxy Bookshop at the Jeudevine Memorial Library’s amazing addition. If you’re around, come!