Chapter 2

Once spring arrived in full force, more of my time was spent in the garden. My late wife, Debbie, had been the one with the green thumb, but I tried to maintain the flowers. If nothing else, in her memory.

Cancer had snatched her away just as I’d retired, squashing our post-retirement plans. While memories of her tugged at an aching heart, so many tragedies had already battered an endless life. At the end of the day, I kept on doing ... What had always been done, adapted once more, hardened a damaged soul, and moved forward.

This had been Debbie’s house. It’d been her way of keeping me for herself, if not for as long as we’d wanted, at least while I transitioned into the latest phase of my life. But she was gone, and soon enough requests for help arrived. So, let’s call it quasi-retirement, busy once more.

Yet, the garage also got re-attacked. Plus, between clearing and replanting the flower beds, I puttered around, doing minor home repairs. Gotta work on that curb appeal. Needed a smaller place to live—with fewer memories.

Not that Mandy had left my mind.

With the trees and lawn greening up nicely, I took time to lounge, spending more time in the yard. Other than the odd trip, most consulting could be done virtually and didn’t take long. Besides, they bowed to my scheduling. Thus, the primary determinant of when to saunter outdoors became her presence in their backyard. A fence of slender black iron posts blocked nothing.

If she were outside, so was I.

While greeting her with a wave and a jaunty “Hello,” I’d keep my distance. In swim trunks or loose gym shorts by the pool, I’d work through messages on a tablet. Meantime, her game was limited to flashing glances my way whenever she thought I wasn’t watching.

Once in a great while, Charles might appear outside as well. Almost always, he’d come over to chat about his latest business venture or an upcoming trip. On that corporate grind, he traveled a lot and for long stretches. Okay, that explained a bored wife’s need for entertainment.