I Would Never Have Believed

I could like Hillary Grantham.

But she really is a decent human

being. I’m glad she and Gabe hit

it off. They deserve each other.

I go back to riding and she goes

back to whatever it is she’s got

planned for the day after taking

the time to try and improve mine.

By the time I finish, my rear

end’s sore, but my brain

is functioning on a higher level,

and that’s a good thing because

now I’ve got to go and see what

remains of the place I’ve called

home for the last eighteen months.

The Focus is parked just outside

the barn, with a note on it saying

it’s okay to drive, despite a few

scratches on the driver’s side.

Just as I’m about to leave, Peg

arrives on scene, waves me over.

Oh my God. What did I do now?

And why is this the first

thought to pop into my head?

But she is kind. Hillary confided

what’s going on with you.

I just wanted to affirm her offer

of a place to stay with us here.

Too kind. “Thank you. I really

appreciate it. I’ll have a few

days to work out if that’s

something I’ll need.”

Wonder exactly how much

they know. What did Gabe tell

Hillary, and what information

did she pass on to her aunt?

I understand the tenuousness

of your situation. Advice is cheap,

but for what it’s worth, I don’t

recommend hasty decisions.

You’ve lost the majority of your

life to subterfuge, but there are

a lot more years ahead of you.

Make the wrong choice now,

there might be no turning back

around. I speak from experience.

You’ve got all the time in the world.

Consider carefully. Regret is an illness.