Coming Home E-Book

Lois Cloarec Hart

• Herausgeber: Ylva Publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 527

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Two women. One impossible situation. A love that defies the rules. A triangle with a twist, Coming Home is the story of three good people caught up in an impossible situation. Rob, a charismatic ex-fighter pilot severely disabled with MS, has been steadfastly cared for by his wife, Jan, for many years. Quite by accident one day, Terry, a young writer/postal carrier, enters their lives and turns it upside down. Injecting joy and turbulence into their quiet existence, Terry draws Rob and Jan into her lively circle of family and friends until the growing attachment between the two women begins to strain the bonds of love and loyalty, to Rob and each other.

Leseprobe

Other Books by this Author

Broken Faith

Walking the Labyrinth

Kicker’s Journey

Author’s note

I chose to leave the anachronisms of 2001 in place in this revised issue of Coming Home. That means there are references to movies and books of 1999–2000 and a lack of common technology such as smartphones, Netflix, and Facebook. While these aspects do date Coming Home, they don’t change the essence of the story or the timeless nature of love between three good-hearted and well-intentioned characters caught in an impossible situation. Because Coming Home and its companion novel, Broken Faith, comprise the beginning of a roman-fleuve, which finds later expression in Walking the Labyrinth, I kept the natural progression of events, even if they’re suspended in the amber of an earlier era.

Acknowledgements

Coming Home was always a labour of love—love remembered and new love found. When I originally wrote the story, my late husband was in the last months of his long and relentless battle with multiple sclerosis. I met my wife-to-be when she was assigned to edit the first incarnation of this book. Day still reviews every word I write, and I am so thankful for her and all the treasured friends Coming Home brought into my life. Day and Kathleen GramsGibbs are my not-so-secret beta team. They catch my mistakes, correct my grammar, push me gently to better paths, and laugh in all the right spots. They are a joy to work with, and I am deeply grateful to both.

For this third revision of Coming Home, I again had the pleasure of working with Ylva’s superb senior editor, Sandra Gerth. She’d already done the arduous slog of breaking my bad habits when we revised Broken Faith last year, which made this time around a breeze. Sandra, thank you for your patience, tact, and humour. Many authors don’t enjoy the editing process, but under your auspices, I’ve found it to be a delight. I look forward to future collaborations.

Dedication

In loving memory of BJ,

who was Rob.

1943–2001

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 1

Jan looped her arms under Rob’s, tucked her head next to his, and braced herself. “Are you ready, love?”

“I’m ready.”

“Okay, here we go.” Jan began the simple transfer from Rob’s wheelchair to his recliner.

They were in mid-lift when Rob’s involuntary leg spasm threw them off balance. Jan tried a mid-air reverse but was unable to get him back into his wheelchair, and they tumbled to the floor.

“Oooph.” Jan stared up at the ceiling. This day is not getting off to a good start. At least she’d managed to keep Rob on top this time. “Are you all right?”

“I think so. I must say, you dance divinely, my dear.”

“Gee, thanks.” Jan eased out from under Rob and knelt beside him. She rolled him on his back, straightened his limbs, and checked for any obvious signs of distress, knowing that his multiple sclerosis-induced paralysis could mask an injury. “It looks like you survived our nosedive all right. Now we have to figure out how to get you up in your chair.” She grabbed a cushion from the couch to slide under his head.

Rob looked up at her. “Do you think Andrew might be home?”

Jan shook her head. “No, he’ll be at work by now.”

“You could ask Victor.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You know he’s always eager to help us.”

“Rob, he’s got to be eighty if he’s a day.”

“I know, but maybe between the two of you?”

Jan stroked his hair. “Not your best idea, love. Victor would try, but I’d be afraid to hurt him.” She ran through her list of options. I could call Kate or John, but I hate to ask them to leave work. “I think we’re going to have to contact the fire hall again.”

“I know you don’t like to do that.” Rob leaned his head into her caress. “I’m perfectly comfortable here. We can wait until Andrew’s home from work.”

“No way am I letting you lie on the floor all day.” She dropped a kiss on his forehead and stood to get the phone. About to place the call, she glanced out the window. Their letter carrier had just turned into the front gate. “I wonder. All I can do is ask, right? If she turns me down, I’ll call the firefighters.”

Terry whistled as she walked up the Spencer walkway. She’d made good progress on her route that morning. I should be done early today. Lots of time to write later.

It was a sunny, mid-summer day with nothing to slow her down except the usual challenge from the McFarlane’s noisy dog. He lunged at her from the end of his chain every time she entered his yard.

Striding on automatic pilot, she appreciated the absence of any obnoxious mutts in the Spencer yard. Their green-and-white bungalow was surrounded by spruce trees, lilac bushes, and well-tended flowerbeds. It’s peaceful. I like it.

Terry occasionally saw Mrs. Spencer tending those beds. The woman always had a smile and a pleasant greeting for her.

When Mrs. Spencer opened the front door and stepped out, Terry held out several envelopes. “Good morning. Lovely day, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Spencer accepted the mail. “Please, I hate to bother you, but would you mind helping me? My husband’s fallen, and I can’t get him back into his chair by myself. If you could lend me a hand, it would only take a moment.”

“Umm, sure. No problem.” Terry followed Mrs. Spencer and slung the mailbags off her shoulders in the foyer. She walked into a sparsely furnished, book-lined living room.

A tall, thin man with a shock of thick, brown hair hanging over his eyes lay on the floor. He smiled at her. “Are you my knight in shining armour?”

Terry grinned. “Well, I can’t say I’ve ever been called that before, but let’s see if we can’t get you back in your chair. Mrs. Spencer, you’ll have to talk me through this. I don’t want to hurt your husband while I’m trying to help.” She started toward him only to duck as two feathered missiles shot over her head. “Whoa, what was that?”

Mrs. Spencer shook her head. “Oh, dear. I’m so sorry. That’s Jamie and Xan, our budgies. They’re not used to strangers, so I guess you scared them.”

“I scared them?” Terry spied two sets of inquisitive eyes peering at her from the top of the nearest bookcase. “They won’t strafe me again, will they?”

“No, they should be fine now,” Mrs. Spencer said. “I really appreciate you lending a hand.”

“I’m glad to help. What would you like me to do?” Terry crouched beside Mr. Spencer’s legs.

Mrs. Spencer took up a position near her husband’s upper body. “When I say go, we’re going to lift him into the recliner. If you grasp him under the thighs, make sure your knees are bent, and don’t lift with your back. It should go smoothly. Wait until I get set here.” She lifted his head and shoulders, rested them against her body, and got a firm grip on his forearms. “Ready?”

Terry nodded. “Ready when you are.” Jesus, I hope I don’t hurt him.

They lifted him off the floor and angled him toward the recliner. They got him partway into the chair before Mrs. Spencer took over.

Terry backed away to give her room to maneuver. She knocked over the footstool that had been in front of the rocking chair next to the recliner, which sent the book and newspapers piled there to the floor. “Damn. I’m sorry.”

“No harm done.” Mrs. Spencer adjusted her husband’s body upright.

Terry picked up the newspapers and book and raised an eyebrow when she noticed the book’s cover. “I’m afraid I lost your place.”

Mrs. Spencer eased her husband’s legs out and crossed them on a pillow. “That’s okay. I can find it again easily.”

Terry set everything back on the righted footstool. “I like Laurie King’s Martinelli series, too, though I didn’t think the second book was as good as the first.”

“I’ve only just started this one,” Mrs. Spencer said. “But I’m looking forward to checking out her other books as well. Anyway, thank you very much for giving us a hand. We really appreciate it.”

Mr. Spencer nodded. “You can be my white knight any day.”

“Not that I mind riding to the rescue,” Terry said. “But try to stay off the floor for a while, okay?”

“Okay, but you know you get a whole different viewpoint from the floor. You should give it a try sometime.”

Terry tilted her head. “To expand my horizons?”

“Exactly. People get in such ruts.” His bright blue eyes twinkled.

Mrs. Spencer eyed her husband. “Rob, I’m sure she has to get back to work.”

“I do, but it was a pleasure to meet you both.” Terry walked back to the door, re-shouldered the mailbags, and turned to leave.

“Thanks again,” Mrs. Spencer said.

Terry waved and started back down the path. She resumed her route on automatic pilot mode. Kind of funny that a straight, suburban housewife would read lesbian mystery novels. She shrugged and turned into the next walkway. No biggie, I guess. Judging by their bookcases, she obviously loves to read, and King is certainly a good writer. She smiled. Who knows? Maybe someday my books will be on her reading list. It could happen.

A week after his unfortunate tumble, Rob sat in the living room while Jan cut his hair. He squirmed as she ran the clippers up his neck.

“Am I tickling you?”

He shook his head. “I was just thinking about the first time you cut my hair—what was it, about eighteen years ago now…and all the grief it caused me at work.”

“Oh, my God. That had to be the ugliest haircut in the history of man, whitewalls and all. I was so afraid that you were going to tell everyone at work that I was the one responsible for it.”

“Well, considering that I’d have had to explain why I was fraternizing with a corporal outside of work hours, I thought discretion was called for. Besides, I knew it’d grow back in eventually, and you did improve with practice. It certainly saved me the aggravation of finding a wheelchair-accessible barber.”

“True, but I don’t know how you put up with all those months of wisecracks while I practiced.” Jan put a final flourish on her work and whipped the towel off his neck. “There you go, love, you’re all neat and tidy again. No more looking like Saddam emerging from his rat hole.” She held up the hand mirror for Rob to check the results.

“Looks good. You should think of taking up a career as a barber.”

Jan’s smile faded. “I already have a career—looking after you.”

Which isn’t going to last forever, no matter how much you want to deny it. Rob’s gaze softened. “And you’re wonderful at it. I really don’t pay you enough.”

Jan dropped a kiss on his head. “As long as you keep up my book allowance, we’ll call it square.” She wheeled him back to his easy chair.

The transfer went smoothly, and Jan went to get him a coffee.

“Could you flip the news channel on for me, hon?” Rob asked when she returned.

“Sure. By the way, you did remember that it’s my respite afternoon today, right? Donny will be here in a couple of hours.” Jan tucked Rob’s fingers around his covered cup, balanced it on his chest, circled it with a towel to hold it in place, and positioned the straw in his mouth. “I picked up a couple of DVDs for you guys. Lots of explosions and mindless sex to keep you riveted.”

“Hey, I have a sensitive side, too, you know.”

“Better not let your old wingmen hear that, or they’d never let you live it down.” Jan winked and started back to the kitchen, walking through a patch of sunlight that illuminated her hair.

Well, I’ll be darned. I see some silver threads in with the red. I probably better keep that to myself. Rob shook his head. Where have the years gone? You were so young when we met. And weren’t the odds stacked against us? But you hung in there. He chuckled.

Jan looked over her shoulder. “Did you say something?”

“No, I was just thinking back to when we met.”

“Are you fixating on those old haircuts?”

Rob shook his head. “No. I was thinking about how unlikely it was that we’d end up here, together, all these years later. I was so bitter after Tess dumped me. I blamed every woman for the way she treated me. I don’t know how you put up with me in the aftermath…or why.”

Jan crossed the room to kneel at his side. “You had reason to be bitter. She let you down when you needed her most.”

“That’s what I used to think, too.”

“You don’t still?”

“No, not really. I mean she married me when I was a healthy, young fighter pilot. I certainly wasn’t that by the time she left. How can I blame her for bailing?”

Jan ran her fingers through his hair. “Did you forget that part about for better or for worse? She certainly did.”

“Most people would’ve under the circumstances.”

Jan shook her head. “I don’t agree.”

“You’ve seen the stats, hon. So many marriages crumple under the strain of this disease.”

“They’re just numbers, Rob. They don’t have anything to do with us.”

“I know.” He pressed his face against her hand. “I may never know why you said yes to that first date, let alone to my proposal, but I know without you I’d have ended up in an institution a long time ago. I just worry—”

“Stop right there.” Jan shot him a stern look. “We’ve been over this a million times. I’m perfectly happy with my life, and I’m not missing out on anything. Got it, Major?”

“Got it, Corporal.” Except a career and children and freedom. Rob accepted the straw Jan put to his mouth and took a mouthful of coffee. “So what time is Donny going to be here?”

Jan rose to her feet. “By noon. I’ve got some errands to run and I’ll have lunch out, but I’ve left soup and sandwiches for you guys.”

“Sounds good.” Rob sipped his coffee and watched the news as Jan returned to the kitchen. The more restricted his body became, the more interested he’d grown in world events. The latest developments in the Middle East and the escalating chances of war there were his current preoccupation.

The closest he’d come to actual combat was when Russian tanks had moved in to crush the Prague Spring in 1968. He had been a rookie pilot, newly posted in Europe at the time, and all NATO forces had gone on high alert in case those tanks moved beyond Czechoslovakia’s borders. It had been a tense but exciting period.

Engrossed in the news, Rob’s mind flitted between the current Mid-Eastern imbroglio and that of long ago when he had been one of an elite band flying countless reconnaissance missions close to the Iron Curtain. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in memories of flashing over fog-filled valleys in razor-winged jets, of lighting afterburners to rocket heavenwards through the clouds, and of facing down MiGs over invisible borders.

He started when Jan took the cup from his hands. “I’m done?”

Jan shook the cup. “Feels like it. Would you like another?”

“No, thanks, but I think my bag needs to be drained.” Rob nodded at his leg.

“I’ll go get the bottle.” She crossed the room and turned down the hallway.

Rob cast a rueful glance after her. From soaring above clouds to needing my urinal bag emptied. Yes, I’ve certainly done well by you, love.

CHAPTER 2

Terry stepped off the bus, started down the street to home, and wiped her brow. Ugh, dog days of summer. I should just swipe one of Michael’s Coronas and spend the rest of the afternoon in the hammock.

When she reached her house, her kid brother was sitting on her front step.

“Hey, Jordy. I thought you had to work today.”

Jordy grinned and scrambled to his feet. “Gary wanted to change shifts with me because he’s got a date this weekend, so I’m off tonight. I decided to see what you guys were doing, and Michael said he was fixing a picnic to go down to River Park. He invited me along, so I’ve just been waiting for you.”

Terry slung an arm around his shoulders. “Well, if Michael’s done the picnic packing, then we don’t want to miss out. I have to shower first, though. Is Claire coming, too?”

“Yeah, she’s off work today.” He bounced up the stairs at her side.

Entering the house, Terry hollered for her roommates.

Michael poked his head out from the kitchen. “Honestly, woman, are you trying to raise the dead?”

“Sorry, I was just wondering how much time I have before we leave for the park.”

“I need about twenty more minutes, so yes, you have time for a shower.” Michael returned to the kitchen, and Jordy followed him.

Terry climbed two flights of stairs to her garret at the top of the house to get ready.

Half an hour later, the four of them piled into Michael’s Pathfinder and drove to the welcome coolness of River Park and a shaded table close to the water’s edge. The Bow River was low and placid at this time of year, but the breeze was a welcome relief as Michael started unloading the big cooler.

Terry took a cold stuffed pita and eyed Michael’s famous lemon sponge cake. Glad I didn’t pack the picnic. It would’ve been bologna sandwiches and Cokes for everyone.

“I forgot to tell you that Marika phoned just before you got home today,” Claire said. “I told her that, as far as I knew, you would be home later on.”

Terry groaned. “Damn. I wish you’d told her I’d be out tonight.”

Claire’s eyebrows rose. “Excuse me? I did not know you were avoiding her.”

Michael grinned. “Yeah, Ter, what’s up with that?”

“You know darned well I’ve been ducking her for a couple of weeks now. Jesus, I went out with her for one measly month, and now she won’t let go. I mean, we had fun and all, but I wasn’t looking for a wife.”

“It’s that old second date, U-Haul syndrome,” Michael said. “You all take things way too seriously.”

“Oh? Like you weren’t mooning over that Owen creep for months last semester?” Terry snagged a cherry tomato from the vegetable tray and threw it at him. “If he’d crooked his little finger at you, you’d have bought him a mansion with a mountain view and moved in with dogs, quilts, and copper pans.”

Michael caught the tomato and popped it in his mouth. “Can’t argue with that. And I do appreciate the tough love, though it was damned hard at the time.”

“I know.” I’m so glad you finally bounced that gold-digging low-life. “But lots more fish in the sea, right? Especially for someone like you.”

“Enough about my woes.” Michael flashed a smile. “Let’s talk about your love life instead. What’s so bad about Marika? She’s gorgeous, and she’s crazy about you. What’s the problem?”

“The crazy part.”

“Huh,” Michael said. “I guess it would be. So how’d you two meet anyway?”

“It was all Lisa’s fault.” Terry sighed. “She set us up on a blind date. Said she thought Marika would be just my type, but all I wanted was some fun. I’m not into getting serious with anyone, and she was. Lisa told me that Marika was asking about me at Oly’s after the game the other night. I just wish she’d start obsessing about someone else and leave me alone.”

“I’m sorry I told her you’d be home tonight,” Claire said. “I didn’t realize she had become a problem. Perhaps you should go over to your parents’ place for the evening in case she comes by.”

Jordy’s expression brightened. “Yeah, Terry. Why don’t you? Alex and Diane are bringing the babies over tonight. You haven’t seen them for a couple of weeks.”

“Good point.” It means another night without getting any writing done, but I can make up for it this weekend. “Okay, buddy. Why don’t you and I head over there after we get back to the house?”

Jordy beamed, and the conversation moved into a discussion of the upcoming academic year. Terry listened idly, her gaze drifting over the park as Michael and Claire discussed shared courses and professors.

She scrutinized an auburn-haired woman who sat a short distance away in a lawn chair under a tree. “Hey, I know her.”

“What did you say?” Jordy took another pita. “You know who?”

“Remember me telling you about the man I helped lift off the floor last week?” Terry pointed at Mrs. Spencer. “Well, that’s his wife. I wonder what she’s doing here all by herself.” She swung her legs out from under the table and stood. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t eat all the cake on me.” She started over toward Mrs. Spencer, not entirely sure what she was going to say or even why she was approaching her.

In the week since she had helped the couple out, Terry had thought about them often. She had been impressed with Mr. Spencer’s upbeat optimism and good humour, even while he lay on the floor as helpless as a turtle on its back. Unusual people fascinated her, and he appeared to have the soul of a hero inside that devastated body.

Mrs. Spencer had also made an impression. The woman’s obvious affection and solicitude for her husband and the lively intelligence that illuminated her face made for an attractive mix.

“Hi.” Terry dropped to the grass in front of Mrs. Spencer. “I saw you from our picnic table and was just wondering how your husband was doing. No after-effects from his fall, were there?”

“Oh, hi.” Mrs. Spencer closed her book. “Thank you for your concern, but no, he’s fine. I really did appreciate your lending a hand, though. I was going to have to call the fire department if you hadn’t come along.”

“No problem at all. By the way, we haven’t really been introduced, although I know you’re Mrs. Spencer.” She held out her hand. “Terry Sanderson.”

“Jan Spencer.” She shook Terry’s hand. “And I apologize for not asking your name earlier.”

“No worries. Is Mr. Spencer around somewhere?”

“No, Rob’s at home with a caregiver. I take one afternoon off a week, and today was so nice that after my errands I decided to come down to the park and read for a few hours.”

“It’s nice that you can get away now and then. I’m sure you can use the break. No Laurie R. King today?” Terry looked at the hardcover that Jan was holding. “Oh, Carol O’Connell. Yeah, I know her books. She’s a terrific writer, and I love her Mallory series. I don’t think I’ve read Judas Child yet, though. Is it as good as her others?”

Jan nodded. “I was disappointed at first when I saw a new Carol O’Connell and it turned out not to be one of the Mallory books, but Judas Child is every bit as good as her other ones. I was looking forward to another visit with Mallory and Charles, though. They have such a fascinating relationship, don’t you think? Of course, nothing about Mallory is conventional, which is why she’s such an intriguing character. In a way, she’s such an amoral genius that you wouldn’t think you could relate to her, and for me, I always have to have at least one of the main characters that I can relate to or I don’t enjoy the book. But her friendship with Charles really humanizes her.”

Terry blinked at the torrent of words. So much for her being shy. “I know what you mean about relating to your characters. I’ve often wondered how authors handle writing despicable characters doing repulsive things. You’d think that if they couldn’t relate to them, they’d have difficulty making them real to the reader, wouldn’t you?”

Jan tilted her head. “You sound like you’ve thought about this a bit. Are you a fellow bookworm?”

Terry smiled. She kept her writing aspirations strictly to herself, out of an almost superstitious fear that she would jinx her work. “I do enjoy reading a lot, though I don’t think I’m quite in your sphere of ‘worminess.’ It’s difficult sometimes to get any peace and quiet at my place to settle down and read without interruption for long periods.”

“Do you live in a noisy apartment building?”

Terry shook her head. “No, but I might as well. I share a house by the university with a couple of third-year students. I took the top floor because I thought it would be the quietest, and it is for the most part. But Michael—he lives in the basement suite—he likes to entertain.” She laughed. “Actually, I think he’s majoring more in partying than business.”

Jan smiled. “That could catch up to him.”

“True. He comes from a pretty wealthy family back east, and I know his father has high expectations. Sometimes I think he came west for university just to get out from under his parents’ eyes.”

“Is your other roommate also a party animal?”

“No, Claire is pretty quiet compared to me and Michael. She takes her studies seriously. She’s originally from Quebec, but she wanted to improve her English, so she decided to go to school here.”

“You’re not in school, are you?” Jan asked. “You don’t look much older than a college student yourself. Or have you found a way to combine school and work?”

Terry leaned back on the thick grass. “Up until a few months ago, I was a student, but I graduated with my M.A. from the U of C this year.”

“What’s a university grad doing delivering mail? I’d have thought you’d want work in your field of study.”

Terry sighed. “Now you sound like my parents. They couldn’t believe I’d spent six years in university only to pound the pavement every day in the service of Canada Post. But I’m really enjoying it. The job pays well, which is important because I have a ton of student loans to pay off. It keeps me in great shape, and I have loads of time just to think. Frankly, I’m all schooled out. I may not spend the next thirty years of my life doing this, but for now it suits my purposes.” She didn’t mention that she had plotted the first four chapters of her book while walking her route in Jan’s neighbourhood. “Do you mostly read mysteries, or do you like other genres, too?”

Jan smiled. “I’ve enjoyed everything from Stephen King to P.G. Wodehouse and from newspapers to comic books. As long as it’s well written, it’s a safe bet that I’ll like reading it.”

“What about speculative fiction?” Terry had the glimmer of an idea.

“I don’t read as much of that as I once did, but yes, I’ve always really enjoyed writers like Stephen R. Donaldson and Dave Duncan. Donaldson was the very first one I read, and his Thomas Covenant series hooked me right from the beginning. Duncan is a true pleasure as he’s so much fun to read. I loved his Seventh Sword series. For pure fantasy, I’d have to say Charles de Lint is my all-time favourite. I used to live in Ottawa, and I’d look for the places he wrote about in Moonheart and Jack the Giant Killer. I thought it was so fascinating to read fantastical stories set in my own town.”

“I know what you mean,” Terry said. “For awhile I wouldn’t read anything but writers like Terry Brooks and David Eddings.” And then I found Naiad’s lesbian romances and all bets were off.

“So did you finish work early today?” Jan asked.

“No, I always start early on hot summer days so that I’m usually done not long after noon.” Terry pointed back at the picnic table where Michael, Claire, and Jordy sat. “Would you like to join us? We have lots of food, and Michael is a terrific cook. You’re welcome to share if you’d like to.”

Jan’s gaze dropped, and she ran a hand through her hair. “Thank you for the invitation, but I have to be getting back now. It’s almost time for the caregiver to leave, and I hate to be late.” She removed her reading glasses, closed her book, and put it in her bag. “It was nice talking to you, Terry. I’ll see you around.” She folded her lawn chair and walked toward the parking lot.

Terry watched her go, then returned to the picnic table.

The others looked up at her arrival.

“Sooooo?” Michael waggled an eyebrow at her. “Who was that, and since when did you get it on with older women?”

Claire smiled. “Oui, now I know why you are avoiding Marika.”

Terry rolled her eyes. “No, you have it all wrong. I just wanted to check that her husband was okay after his fall.”

Michael and Claire nodded and returned to their conversation.

Jordy studied Terry.

“What?” She scowled at him. “Do I have something on my face?” God, I hate it when he does that. It’s like he can see right through me.

“No. Nothing on your face. Nothing at all.”

CHAPTER 3

Emily smiled as her two youngest progeny bailed out of Terry’s beloved ancient Toyota. When that car finally gives up the ghost, she’ll hold services for the dearly departed. Hands immersed in a sink full of bubbles, she watched them amble through the backyard to the house. She finished stacking the dishes in the rack and picked up a towel to dry them just as they burst into the kitchen.

“Hi, Mom.” Terry kissed Emily’s cheek. “Still doing dishes the old-fashioned way, I see.”

“I’m perfectly capable of washing and drying a few dinner dishes, daughter-dear.” They’ll never understand that this is meditative for me. It’s my window of peace in the day. “Alex, Diane, and the twins will be over in about half an hour. Can you stay long enough to see them?”

“I’m all yours for the evening. Actually, Jordy told me they’d be here. I haven’t seen the babies for weeks now. I’ll bet they’ve doubled in size.”

“Well, not quite doubled, but close enough,” Emily said. “They’ve already outgrown all the clothes I took them a month ago. You’ve got some time until they’re here. Why don’t you go out and say hello to your father? He’s in the garage working on the lawn mower again.”

“I don’t know why he doesn’t just break down and buy a new one.”

Emily smiled. “Oh, like you’ll break down and buy a new car?”

“That’s different. The Tin Can is a classic.”

Jordy snorted. “More like a relic.”

“Hey! If you ever expect to borrow it again, you’ll show a little respect.” Terry punched his shoulder. “I’m going to go harass Dad for a bit. Give me a call when they get here, okay?”

Emily nodded, and Terry headed back outside to the garage. She turned to Jordy, who was sitting at the table, munching on fresh chocolate chip cookies. “Don’t eat all of them. I made them especially for company tonight.”

“Since when was Alex company?”

“He’s not, but you know Diane is still shy around this crew, so I like to make an effort when she comes by.” Emily often wondered if her daughter-in-law would ever feel comfortable with the rambunctious family she had married into. Still, she and Alex seemed very happy together, and the twins were, without question, perfect grandchildren.

“Hey, Mom? I think Terry’s having a problem with one of her exes. Do you remember the tall blonde she went out with a month or so ago?”

“Which tall blonde? You’ll have to be a little more specific than that.”

“You know who I mean,” Jordy said. “Terry brought her here for Sunday dinner one time. Her name was Marika.”

Emily frowned. “I thought they broke up a few weeks ago. I distinctly remember feeling relieved when Terry told me that one was history.”

“Well, she is as far as Terry’s concerned, but Marika won’t leave her alone. She keeps calling her all the time, and she’s keeping tabs on her through Terry’s friends.”

“I doubt there’s too much to worry about. Your sister manages to juggle her social life pretty well, but keep your ears open. If it sounds like things are getting out of hand, tell me about it. Just don’t let Terry know you’re looking out for her. You know she’s convinced that it’s her job to watch out for you.”

They exchanged smiles.

The doorbell sounded.

“Oh, they’re early.” Emily dried her hands. “Run and tell your father and Terry that Alex and his family are here.”

Jordy ran off to the garage, while Emily opened the front door to her oldest son with his arms full of baby and a diaper bag. Two steps behind, Diane followed with another baby in her arms. Emily reached out to take her granddaughter from Alex and ushered them into the living room.

Alex and Diane settled on the couch with audible sighs of relief.

Gordon, Terry, and Jordy came in from outside.

Terry took the other twin from Diane and looked at the baby in her mother’s arms. “Have I got Kerry or Kelly?”

“You’ve got Kelly,” Diane said. “It’s actually pretty easy to tell them apart when they’re together. Kelly’s far more demanding than Kerry is. I think she must take after your side of the family.”

Emily chuckled. Good point. Lord knows we aren’t the quietest clan around. She surveyed the room. Alex and Diane relaxed on the couch. Gordon sat in his armchair, sipping his ever-present cup of coffee, and Terry and Jordy played with Kelly on the floor. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

Terry looked up at Alex. “How’s work going, bro?”

Alex draped an arm around Diane. “Actually, it’s been murder this last month or so. Remember I was telling you about doing a job for that rich old lady in Mount Royal?”

“I remember. What happened?”

“This woman cannot make up her mind.” Alex shook his head. “She had us import Italian marble tiles for her, but then, when we’ve got them two-thirds installed, she decided it wasn’t the right colour. Doesn’t go with the rest of the décor, she says. Fine, she’s paying for it, so we rip the bloody things out and reorder in the colour she wants. They come, we start laying them, and damned if she doesn’t change her mind back to the original colour. I sent Noel to run interference because if I’d had to deal with her again, I think I’d have killed her.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Gordon said. “When Jordy graduates next year and joins the company, we’ll put him in charge of public relations. He’s much more of a people person than you, Matt, or Duncan.”

Emily stiffened and looked at Jordy. He and Terry exchanged a glance. Gordon assumed that Jordy would join his three older brothers in the family business when he finished high school, but that wasn’t Jordy’s dream. Only she and Terry knew that he wanted to go to medical school and eventually become a pediatrician.

I’m going to have a fight on my hands when I confront Gordon, but come hell or high water, Jordy is going to get his chance. Emily sighed. It’s going to break Gordon’s heart, though. He’s dreamed about all four of his boys being in the business with him since Jordy was born.

Gordon had been very disappointed when Terry appeared to waste her education by taking a job as a carrier. Emily didn’t quite understand it either, but she assumed that Terry just needed a break after six intensive years of university and would eventually go on to make use of her degrees.

Emily had hoped to leave the confrontation a little longer, but it wasn’t fair to either Gordon or Jordy to allow the situation to go on as it was. Jordy was already filling out his application. I need to speak to Gord soon.

“Uh, I think a change may be in order here.” Terry held Kelly at arm’s length and deposited her in Diane’s lap.

Diane took the baby, grabbed the diaper bag, and headed for the washroom.

Gordon smirked. “What’s the matter? Can’t handle one little dirty diaper on your own?”

Terry sat on the arm of Gord’s chair. “Careful, old man, I don’t see you offering to do diaper duty either. I’ll have you know it’s in the Aunt’s Handbook that we’re only required to change diapers when parents of said child are not in the immediate vicinity.”

“Well, I’ll have you know that the Grandfather’s Handbook outranks the Aunt’s Handbook,” Gordon said. “And since I did many years of diaper duty on you brats, you need to have a little respect. Besides, I can remember changing you and Matt in thirty seconds flat with my eyes closed in the middle of the night.”

Terry groaned. “So you say, but I haven’t seen you change Kerry or Kelly once. It’s always up to Mom or Diane.”

Gordon turned to Emily. “Honey, tell this daughter of yours how proficient I was when the kids were little.”

Emily tilted her head. “I do have to admit you were a mean diaper changer, although there was that time with Alex when you couldn’t find the pins and you duct-taped his diapers on him.”

Alex shot a scowl at Gordon. “Dad!”

Gordon grinned. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Yes, until it was time to change him again and I had to cut his diapers off.”

“I’ll bet you never did that to Duncan or Matt,” Alex said, amidst the family’s gales of laughter.

“Nope,” Gordon said. “I refined my technique with Duncan, and by the time Matt and Terry came along, they had a wonderful invention called disposables.”

Turning to Emily, Terry asked, “Speaking of Duncan and Matt, are they coming for dinner on Sunday?”

“Duncan and Karen are coming, but I haven’t heard from Matt yet.”

“Not likely to either.” Terry grimaced. “Matt will make up his mind five minutes before dinner, drop in without a word, and just assume you’ll have a place for him.”

“I always have a place for all you kids, you know that.” Emily hated the friction between Terry and Matt. They’re so blessed competitive. Matt was the most troubled of her children, but while the boys all made allowances for him, Terry never cut him an inch of slack. When she came out to her family at sixteen, Matt was the only one who tried to use her revelation as a weapon against her. It had infuriated Terry, and the bitter edge between them hadn’t eased with time.

Emily had accepted that the best she could hope for from these two was an armed truce, but she was adamant that the family home be a neutral zone. Since she had lost her temper at the pair a year ago in a spectacular display of maternal rage, both Terry and Matt had done their best to be civil in front of her, but she was under no illusions that the war had ended.

Terry yawned and ruffled her father’s thinning grey hair. “I’d better be getting home. I’ll see you on Sunday, okay? What time should I be here?”

Emily stood, shifted her granddaughter to one hip, and walked Terry to the door. “Drop over whenever you like, and bring the others if you want to. We’ll probably eat about six.”

“Okay. I’ll check with Michael and Claire. I’m sure they’d love to come.”

Emily hugged her goodbye, then turned back into the house to rejoin the rest of her family.

CHAPTER 4

Despite her fatigue, Terry’s pace didn’t slacken as she worked her way through her route. I shouldn’t have stayed at Mom and Dad’s so late last night. Though only mid-morning, it was already a very warm day, and the weather forecast promised another long, hot August week.

Her next bundle of mail was for the Spencers. She turned into the bungalow’s walkway, pleased that the couple was in the front yard.

Rob sat in his wheelchair in the shade by the front door, watching Jan work in the flower gardens. “Hey, it’s my white knight.”

Terry grinned. “If I’m the white knight, does that make you the damsel in distress?”

“If you put on the armour, I’ll put on the dress.”

Jan stepped out of the flowerbed, dusted her hands off on her shorts, and reached for the envelopes that Terry extended to her. “Don’t mind that husband of mine. He’s feeling his oats this morning.”

“No problem. It’s too nice a day not to feel great. So is he the foreman of this endeavour?”

Jan laughed and shook her head. “What Rob knows about flowers could be contained in a thimble. I’m afraid he’s strictly a spectator when it comes to horticulture.”

“Aw, c’mon.” Rob’s eyes twinkled. “I’m not that bad. If nothing else, I can order a mean bunch of flowers.”

“Yes, you can, love. You are one of the world’s finest flower givers.” Jan looked at Terry. “He once got a little carried away, and I came home from work to find six dozen long-stemmed roses waiting for me. You could smell the scent a mile away, and we ended up handing out roses to just about everyone who came by the apartment, even the solicitors.”

“So he’s really a romantic at heart, is he?”

“Well, I wouldn’t ask him to write a poem, but he does all right for himself.”

“Hey, I can write poetry,” Rob said. “Don’t you remember those squadron songs I made up?”

“Rob, honey. That wasn’t poetry. Those were the grossest limericks set to music I’ve ever heard. Face it, you weren’t exactly Robert Frost.”

Terry had to get back on her route, but this was her chance to present the idea she’d been considering since the day she’d met Jan in the park. “On a whole other topic, you know how you mentioned the other day that Charles de Lint was one of your favourites?”

Jan nodded.

“Well, he’s doing a reading of his latest book at Chapters on Thursday night, and I wondered if maybe you guys wanted to go and then maybe grab some coffee afterwards.”

Jan shook her head. “Thank you for the invitation, but Rob doesn’t care for fantasy, and I can’t leave him alone.”

Rob gazed at Jan. “Hon, why don’t you call Donny and see if he can make it in the evening instead of the afternoon? Then you could go to the reading with Terry.”

“Are you sure? You wouldn’t mind?”

“No, I don’t mind at all. It’ll be good for you to get out. Give Donny a call. Tell him I’ll spot him five points. He lost three out of five games last week, and I bet you anything he’ll be keen for a rematch.”

Darn.He’d have been a hoot to have along. Oh well. At least Jan can come. “Why don’t I give you my number, and you can let me know if things work out all right? If they do, how about I pick you up around seven on Thursday?” Terry pulled a pencil out of her pocket.

Jan handed her one of the envelopes.

Terry jotted down her contact information. “I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you, and I hope you’re able to go. I think it’ll be an interesting evening.” She touched Rob’s arm. “Thanks for being flexible.”

Rob shook his head. “No, thank you. Jan needs to get out and see people more often. She shouldn’t be stuck at home with me all the time, but I haven’t been able to convince her of that.”

“I’m not ‘stuck’ with you.” Jan laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m where I want to be, and you know that.”

Sounds like a longstanding disagreement if I’ve ever heard one. “I’d better get back to work. You have a good day.” Terry started back down the path.

“See you on Thursday.”

Terry answered Jan’s call with a wave and turned up the street with a lighter step. I’m looking forward to this.

Thursday night, Terry stood in front of her closet and glared at her wardrobe. She had already chosen and then discarded three pairs of pants. Oh, for heaven’s sake, just pick something. She closed her eyes and grabbed.

Terry opened her eyes. “Okay. That’ll do.” She donned a pair of faded but clean khakis. Then she chose a dark blue, short-sleeved cotton shirt and held it up while she looked in the mirror.

“I’m sure your date will be impressed.” Michael stood in her doorway, smirking.

Terry scowled at him in the mirror. “It’s not a date. I’m just meeting a friend for coffee at the bookstore.”

“Uh-huh.” Michael sauntered over and perched on the side of the bed. “I’ve seen you take less time dressing for a wedding. So who are you meeting?”

“You remember the woman from the park last week?” Terry finished buttoning her shirt. “I ran into them on my route a couple of days ago, and I asked her and her husband if they’d like to go to the de Lint reading. He wasn’t interested, but she was, so I’m picking her up at seven.”

Michael arched an eyebrow. “Since when do you go out with married women?”

“I told you. It’s not a date.” Terry turned to face him. “Have you ever met someone—or in this case two someones—and just, I don’t know, connected? Like you know you’re destined to be friends? I want to know them better…both of them. They’re quite the pair. They seem like a perfect team, and they’re so comfortable together. In a way, they remind me of my folks.”

“So Jan’s a mother figure?” Michael asked. “Cuz you’ve already got a pretty cool mom.”

“No, of course not.” Terry ran a brush through her hair. “You know, just because I’m meeting a woman for an evening out doesn’t mean there’s anything romantic about it. Can’t you be around good-looking men without lusting after them?”

“Nope.”

Terry laughed. “Silly me, I forgot who I was talking to.” She glanced at her watch. “Yikes, I’ve got to get going, or I’ll be late. I’ll see you later.”

She pulled up in front of the Spencer house a few minutes after seven and walked up to the door.

It swung open, and a burly man smiled at her. “C’mon in. Jan will be ready in a minute. We kind of got behind the clock, so she’s running a little late. I’m Donny, by the way, and I take it you’re Terry?”

“I am. Hi, Donny.” Terry followed him into the living room. “I hear you’re planning on beating the pants off Rob tonight.”

“I heard that,” Rob said. “Just for your lack of faith, I’m going to sic the birds on you.”

Terry ducked and looked around for the feathered duo. They sat calmly on the top of their cage, eating a piece of oversized lettuce that poked through the bars. “Looks like they don’t listen to you very well.” She settled onto the couch to wait for Jan.

“No one does. Who’d ever believe I was once a senior officer with airmen grovelling at my feet and hanging on my every command?” Rob grinned at the snort from the hallway.

“No one who ever knew you while you served, that’s for sure.” Jan entered the living room, tucking her green, silky T-shirt into tan slacks. “There was a reason you were called Major Marshmallow.” She glanced at Terry. “I’m sorry to hold you up, but I’m ready to go now.”

Terry stood. “That’s okay. We’ve got lots of time.”

Jan walked over to Rob and kissed him goodbye. “Have fun. I won’t be too late.”

Donny arranged the dominoes. “Take your time. I need to teach your husband a little humility.”

“Fat chance,” Rob said. “Prepare to lose your shirt and probably the rest of your apparel, too.”

“I didn’t know you two were playing strip dominoes.” Jan winked as she turned to leave. “Do try not to shock the neighbours, okay?”

Terry held the door for Jan. The men were already arguing over who got to go first. “Are they always this combative?”

They walked down the path. “Always, but it’s good for Rob. He was intensely competitive as a pilot and a sportsman, and now he needs other outlets. I’m not much help. I don’t have a competitive bone in my body, so Donny is the perfect caregiver for him. I like him to have male companionship, too, since he’s mostly stuck with me.”

Terry opened Jan’s door, then walked around to her side. “I doubt he’d ever call it being stuck with you. He seems to be pretty happy you’re around.”

Jan slid into the front seat. “I know that he is, of course, but it’s hard for one person to be everything to another person, don’t you think?”

Terry pulled away from the curb. “I suppose. I think of everyone in my life, and they all fill different roles for me, so it’s hard to imagine having only one person in your life.” She flashed Jan a smile. “But if it has to be only one person, I’ll bet Rob’s darned glad that it’s you.”

“Thank you. That’s very sweet.”

Fifteen minutes later, Terry pulled up in front of the huge bookstore. The parking lot was crowded. Chapters, with its co-located Starbucks, was a popular gathering spot even without a reading scheduled. Terry found a spot and parked.

A refreshing blast of cool air hit them when they entered the store.

“I may just sleep here tonight.” Terry tugged on her collar.

“I take it you don’t have air conditioning where you live?” Jan asked.

“Not in the whole house. I do have a temperamental window unit that works sporadically. That can be a problem when you’re living in an attic in August.” Terry led the way to two seats in the rear. “I’ll get us a couple of ice cappuccinos, unless there’s something else you’d prefer?”

“That’s fine. Let me give you some money for it.” Jan started to open her purse.

“No, don’t worry about it. You can get the next round.” Terry stood in line to get the cappuccinos and watched Jan eye the shelves of books around her. I’ll bet she’s spent quite a few dollars in here. Once she’d been served, she returned to their seats and handed Jan her cappuccino.

“Thanks. You know, I think something may be going on. I’ve been watching those Chapters employees milling around at the front, and they seem to be upset about something.”

One of the men wearing a blue Chapters shirt stepped forward and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid we’re going to have to postpone the reading for tonight. Mr. de Lint has been unavoidably delayed, but he’s promised to make it here as soon as he can. If you’d like to leave your number at customer services, we’ll contact you with the time of the next reading. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

Terry and Jan looked at each other as the murmuring crowd slowly dispersed.

“Did you want to go home, then, or would you like to stay and finish your coffee, maybe do a little browsing afterwards?” Terry asked.

“I’d hate to interrupt the men when they’re deep in their game. Rob might never forgive me if I prevented him from thrashing Donny.” Jan raised her cappuccino. “Why don’t we find a better spot to relax and drink these? It’s not too often that I’m out for an evening, so I might as well take advantage of it.”

Terry followed her to a couch between shelves labelled psychology and political affairs. “Judging by your library, you probably already own half these books.”

“Oh, nothing as deep as this,” Jan said. “When it comes to books, I’m strictly an escapist reader. I like to keep up on world events through the newspapers, but when it comes to leisure reading, I want to be swept off into fantastic worlds, with fascinating people doing incredible things. Rob’s never really understood that. He prefers military techno-thrillers like Tom Clancy that are solidly grounded in politics and realism. He sometimes accuses me of having my head in the clouds, but as I told him, the real world is harsh enough—why wouldn’t I want to leave it now and then?”

“I know what you mean. I like nothing better than to lose complete track of time when I’m reading or watching a movie. If I’m that absorbed in someone else’s vision, then I emerge at the end feeling like I’ve taken a trip without ever leaving home.”

“Are you quite a movie buff?” Jan asked.

“I used to be. My mom always knew that if she couldn’t find me on Saturday afternoon, odds were that I was at the theatre. Lately though, I mostly rely on videos to keep up as I never get to the movies I want to see before they’ve left town. I always make mental notes about which ones I might like. Then I’m shocked when I finally have time and they’ve long since departed the theatre. My life’s too darned busy at the moment.” Terry shook her head. “I think the last film I actually saw in a theatre was the final Lord of the Rings.”

“Rob and I went to see that one, too. Even my thoroughly hard-headed husband enjoyed it, though I should’ve known anything with sweeping battle scenes would engross him.”

“It was good, though I’m not one of those who went back to see it twenty times in a row.”

Jan smiled. “Do you mean to say you weren’t swept away by Orlando’s elfish charms?”

“Hardly.” Terry shook her head.

“So are you more a Viggo Mortensen type? I’m assuming you’re single by lack of a ring, not that that necessarily indicates anything.”

Terry hesitated. It was always difficult to know the right timing for coming out to new people in her life.

“Hello, Terry.” The voice came from behind her. “What a lovely surprise running into you here.” Marika stepped around in front of them. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

Terry groaned inwardly. Jesus, of all the people to run into tonight. Coincidence? I doubt it. “Marika, this is Mrs. Jan Spencer. Jan, this is Marika Havers, and I’m sure that she was just leaving.”

Marika raised an eyebrow. “Mrs. Spencer, is it? It’s so nice to meet you. Of course, it’s always nice to meet one of Terry’s friends.”

Terry glowered at her.

Marika took a step back. “I’m sorry I can’t stop and chat. It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Spencer. Terry, I’ll see you again soon.” She walked away.

“Not if I see you first.” Terry hadn’t thought Marika would hear her muttered words, but her pace faltered before picking up as she walked to the exit.

Jan gazed at Terry. “Do you want to tell me what just happened?”

Not really. “Marika and I dated for about a month before I broke it off. That was several weeks ago, but she keeps turning up wherever I am. I feel like she’s stalking me, but she doesn’t do anything overt that I can pin her on. She’s always just there.”

“That answers my question about your type, then.” Jan drained her glass.

“Is that a problem?” Terry held her breath.

Jan smiled. “It’s no problem at all. I’m glad you were open with me.”

Terry sighed. Thank God. Marika didn’t ruin things after all.

Jan set her empty cup aside. “I think the next round is on me. Do you want another of the same?”

Terry nodded, and Jan walked over to the corner coffee bar. I hope Rob is as open-minded as his wife.

Jan returned with their drinks, and they settled into the ends of the couch, half-facing each other.

“So you told me a little about your roommates. Do you have family in the city?” Jan asked.

“And how. My parents had five kids, so I’ve got three older brothers and one younger. Alex is married with nine-month-old twin girls, and Duncan is engaged. Jordy’s got one more year of high school. What about you?”

“Family? Other than Rob I have an older sister, Kate, and her family here, and my mom lives back east.”

“Are you close to your sister?”

Jan nodded. “Pretty close, but of course she’s busy with work and raising her son, so we don’t see a lot of each other. What about you? Do you get along well with all your siblings?”

“With Alex and Duncan, yes. And Jordy is my favourite. He’s eight years younger than me, but sometimes it seems like he’s twenty years older than me. He’s a really special kid.”

“You left one out, didn’t you?”

Terry frowned. “I did.”

Jan waited quietly.

Terry blew out a breath. “Matt and me, we don’t really get along all that well. Never have. We’re the closest in age. Maybe that’s part of the problem. Matty had big dreams when he was younger. He was a helluva hockey player, and he might’ve made it to the NHL.”

“But?”

“But the dumbass was hot-dogging with some friends out of bounds on the ski hill, and he somersaulted off a cliff and into some trees. Busted himself up so bad that it ended his pro hockey dreams.” Terry shook her head. “He got mean after that. One time he so thoroughly convinced Jordy that he’d been adopted that the little guy was going to run away. Luckily, I came on him packing his ball mitt and GI Joe and found out what was going on.”

“Why did Jordy believe he was adopted?”

“Because all the rest of us look like me and he doesn’t.”

“So he’s not tall and lean with dark hair and eyes?”

Huh, she noticed. “No, Jordy’s stocky, and he’s got sandy hair and blue eyes.”

“So how’d you convince him to stay?”

“I showed him some old childhood photos of our maternal grandfather. Jordy is his spitting image. Then I smuggled some of Mom’s chocolate chip cookies downstairs before dinner and reminded him if he ran away he wouldn’t get any more cookies. It worked.”

Jan laughed. “Rob can be manipulated with homemade cookies, too.”

“They do say that the way to a man’s heart, even a little man, is through his stomach.” Terry set her empty cup aside. “Anyway, I was so pissed off at Matt that when I found him, I punched his lights out. I got grounded for a month, but it was worth it.”

“So you have previous experience being a knight in shining armour, then.” Jan’s eyes sparkled.

Terry blushed. “I suppose so. But enough about me. Tell me about you and Rob. Where did you two meet?”

“We were both posted in Ottawa many years ago. I arrived there as a young corporal in air traffic control, and we both worked out of base operations,” Jan said. “He and his wife had split up not long before. Rob was still pretty devastated.”

“It’s hard to imagine anyone leaving him. He’s so…charismatic.”

Jan nodded. “He is. Wheelchair or not, he attracted people to him like bees to honey. But she couldn’t handle the fact that MS had left him disabled. It was a bitter split, to say the least.”

“So you started dating soon after?”