of the dessert, a sip of her coffee, before saying, “I used to live in Pittsfield. A long time ago, lifetimes, it feels like now.
“I was married to a man then who worked for a company that moved him around. And because I have always enjoyed change and adventure, it didn’t bother me that we would move all the time. I enjoyed starting fresh and meeting new people.
“Through the years, I started to notice the same kinds of people everywhere, which meant I recognized what kind of people they were right away. I made friends quickly because of that and became a good listener and secret keeper if necessary.
“I learned to pay attention and notice things other people missed. All of which have served me well throughout my lifetime. I have learned that although there are evil people in this world—some I would call monsters—most people want to be good people.
“But good people do bad things too. Sometimes on purpose, but all too often by mistake.”
Grace paused and looked at Bree, who had turned pale.
“Perhaps before I continue, do you want to go someplace more private?”
Bree nodded.
“After I tell you this story, I think you will want to stay in town to do a little more research. Do you think I could get a room where you’re staying? Perhaps we could go there?”
While Cindy paid the bill, Marsha called the hotel, reserved a room for Grace, and switched her own room to a suite.
An hour later, they were all settled into chairs gathered around a coffee table in the small but cozy living room in Marsha’s suite. Cindy had made a pot of coffee, and although they all had a cup in front of them, only Grace had taken a sip.
Trying to be as polite as possible, even though she felt like screaming, Bree looked at Grace and asked if she was ready to continue.
Grace smiled at Bree, feeling Bree’s tension and fear, knowing she would make it worse before she could make it better.
”As I was saying, good people do bad things. Sometimes intentionally, often not. Then there is a cascade of events that can happen, often making things much worse. When that happens, we all face the same questions. Do I tell what I did? Do I try to make it right? Or do I hope that no one ever finds out?
“All these decisions impact people’s lives forever, but at the moment, most of us don’t realize it. I am sure you all have done things you regretted. Hurt people you didn’t mean to hurt. And maybe you made it worse based on what you did trying to fix it. It’s what humans do, isn’t it?
“But we always have a chance to try and make it right later. Perhaps how we do it is not the wisest way, but I believe that the intent behind it makes a difference.”
“Are you telling me my husband did something bad, and then what he did afterward made it worse, and now that he’s dead and since he didn’t face it, he is making me do it?
“That’s what you are saying, isn’t it? You want me to understand, so I’ll forgive him for what he did? How horrible was it? No, I don’t think I want to know.”
Bree stood and walked out the door, letting it slam behind her. Cindy moved to go after her, but Grace said, “Let her go. She’ll be back. That woman has courage and curiosity. Both of them will win out.”
“While she’s gone, perhaps tell me a little about yourselves and how you met?”
By the time Cindy had told the story of how Bree had found her in the cloakroom and how Bree found Marsha in a dance class, and then a little about April and Judith back in Spring Falls, Bree had returned.
All three women smiled at her, and Marsha said, “We’ve been telling Grace about how we all met. And how you kept us all together and protected us while we were in school.”
“We were just getting to the part where you saw Paul and said you were going to marry him,” Cindy added, then blushed, thinking that might not have been something Bree wanted to talk about.
“Did I?” Bree asked. “Did I protect you?”
Marsha nodded. “You did. You constantly reminded us to stick together. Judith scared people, Cindy made everyone feel safe. April made people laugh. I kept you all wondering where I was and when would I get there. But you, Bree, you were the rock we made our life around.”
“And then I left,” Bree said. “And you all remained for each other.”
Looking at Grace, Bree asked, “Is this what you mean by good people making wrong choices?”
“Maybe it wasn’t a wrong choice at the time, Bree,” Grace answered. “But it is an example of how we have to make choices based on what we think is right in the middle of very emotional and trying times.”
“And that’s what Paul did? He did something wrong and made a choice that he wants me to fix?”
“I believe so,” Grace answered. “Are you willing?”
“Do I have a choice?” Bree said. “If I don’t find out what he did and then do whatever I can to make it right, then I am consciously doing something bad. Well, maybe not bad, but definitely not right. I don’t think I can live with that.
“And I am mad at Paul for making me deal with this now. Is that wrong?”
“I think we can be mad at people and still love them,” Grace answered. “Perhaps finding out will help you understand him better.”
“So this last gift crap wasn’t a last gift to me. It’s a last gift to himself.”
Bree wanted to kick something she was so mad, but at least she didn’t feel dead inside anymore. She could pretend that’s what Paul wanted to give her, enough anger to get her moving again. Well, if that’s the case, it was working.
“I’m ready for the story, Grace. But first, I am curious. Are you here to tell me this because you are trying to make up for something that you did that was bad?”
Grace smiled at Bree. “What a wise question to ask, and yes, I too made a decision, and I have never been sure whether it was the right one or the wrong one. The man you knew as Paul is giving me this gift too. A chance to make things right, or at least better.”
It was Marsha who asked, “So his name wasn’t Paul Stanford Mann?”
“No, my dear, it wasn’t. His name was Stan Joseph Ford.”
Marsha gasped, reached into her purse for the papers she printed out at the library, shuffled through them, and then handed one to Grace.
”Is this who he was and what he did?”