EDWARD HELPED CHARLOTTE OFF with her coat and knitted hat and hung them on the clothes tree by the front door. “Not a bad day for October. Bit of a chill in the air, though. How do you feel?"
“Tired. I’m surprised with how long it's taking for my energy to return. The sun and fresh the air did help.”
“That’s a beginning, a good beginning. You can't forget that you've gone through a lot. Look, why don’t I start up a fire and open a bottle of Coffin Ridge Marguette?”
“It sounds scrumptious!” she replied, briskly rubbing up and down her arms.
Watching him gather the kindling, logs and paper, she sipped on her glass of wine. She couldn't remember when she had last felt this relaxed.
“How did your evening with Janet go? Were you able to ply out of her why she still drives that old Camarro?"
“Why do you ask?" She topped up her wine.
“Just curious."
“You know what curiosity did to the cat,” she replied.
He stopped what he was doing and faced her. “I’m no cat.”
“Then I guess you’ll live.” She placed the wine bottle on the coffee table. “She told me...but...she swore me to secrecy." Edward giggled. “What's so funny?"
“Her big secret." He returned to arranging the kindling between the paper and logs.
“Your phishing."
He struck the match and carefully lit the edges of the paper. "There. It won't take long until we'll have a nice fire." He stood up and faced her. “And, no, I'm not phishing. Charlotte, you know just as well as I that this is a small community, it’s almost impossible to keep a secret." She stared at him. He could tell she was gauging him and whether to believe him or not.
“Well?" she finally asked. “Are you going to tell me?”
He poured himself a glass of wine, took a long drink and poured some more. “If you must. She made love with that married American teacher in the back..."
“No need to continue," she interjected, holding up her hand. She proffered her glass for a refill.
A few minutes later she sat cross-legged and alone in front of the fire drinking her wine. “Edward? Aren’t you going to join me? What are you doing in your office?”
“I’ll be right out!”
When he finally joined her, he had a white envelope in one hand and his glass of wine in the other. “I think this is the most appropriate time to do this.”
“To do what?” She uncrossed her legs and leaned against the couch.
He showed her the unopened envelope with Blackwell’s and the motel’s names written on it. Before sitting down beside her, he placed it in the fire where the flames were bluest.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“No, I guess not...No, it doesn't matter. But you hadn't opened it. Didn't you want to know what it contained?"
He smiled. “Let's just call it new beginnings. I think we can toast that, can’t we?" And, they clinked glasses. “I hope..." She pressed her fingers against his lips.
“No need, Edward, I feel the same," she replied, placing her head against his shoulder.
He watched as the flames peeled away the envelope. Two DVDs spilled out. Hungrily the flames licked at them, twisting and shriveling the discs until their potential to do harm dissipated with them, and they became nothing more than harmless, meaningless flakes among the fire’s embers.
“Edward, have you heard from Chuck lately?” she asked, almost as an after-thought.
“The last time was at the hospital. One of the times I visited you. It was just before he stepped into his new role as Interim Premier. Why?”
“No reason. Just wondering.” She took a drink from her glass and returned to watching the fire. “He sent Janet and me a lengthy letter thanking us for rescuing his daughter.” Picking up the bottle of wine she had put between them she poured herself a glass. “More?” He held out his glass.
“Strange thing, though.”
“Strange? What was strange?” she asked, emptying the bottle into his glass.
“When we last spoke, he appeared troubled. Said there was something he had to get off his chest.”
She placed the empty bottle beside her. “Whatever it was, I’m sure it can wait.” She put her glass down and took his to join hers. Sliding closer to him, she turned his face to her and kissed him on the lips.
“That was a pleasant surprise.”
“Do you think we have a chance?” she asked.
“Time will tell whatever time will tell. But I’d put heavy odds on yes.” And he took her in his arms and kissed her deeply.
THE END