Image by Günther Schneider from Pixabay
“Care to join in on my little trip to memory lane with Roe?”
I shook away the uneasy feeling at remembering how Betty was soon called away by her campaign manager after that moment, making myself focus on Hilda as she sat across from me on my reading table, quite focused on which card she would be picking from the deck.
It had been several days since that incident at the police station, my gaze inadvertently settled on the man who sat near the door, her son, Lee, had accompanied her here to my shop.
“Oh Roe, I can't seem to find it in myself to get my reading done this week—Oh! Those are some lovely flowers there!”
I followed Hilda's gaze as she admired the sunflowers I just felt like buying from the store down the street, before I heard her sigh almost nostalgically, “Well.. doesn't that remind me of my bright young days with Paul—hand in hand as we both held a suitcase, just welcoming the new day as any newly wed couple would do..”
Not being able to keep the frown from showing on my face at the mention of her ex-husband, Mr. Grant, Hilda only laughed on my behalf.
“Some things may have changed dear, but at least Paul and I still managed to keep our happiness without hurting each other.”
“But didn't it hurt when he left and moved on just like that?” I couldn't help but blurt that question out in the open, thankful to see Hilda may not have heard me as she continued to star unseeing at the sunflowers.
“Would you rather I had him chained to my side as I was slowly filled with remorse over Lee's disappearance all those year ago?”
She had heard me after all—her eyes that now focused on me were clear and true as her weathered face seemed to look younger with the radiant smile she had.
Not knowing how to answer her, Hilda instead gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder, before she stood to leave with Lee at her side.
Though I was happy for Hilda at finally making peace with herself, I couldn't shake off the feeling that deep down, something had changed with her son's heart and soul.
Links:
The Ink Well Weekly Fiction Prompt #1: Heart and Soul
Author's notes: I will admit to being thrown off track with the change in format and prompts for the InkWell writing exercise. Top it off with a lot of happenings in 3D life. I will do my best to catch up the best way I can. I plan on continuing what I started with the fast and furious fiction story. Right now, it's also wait and see for me as to where it will go from here.