Her phone vibrated signaling an incoming text. She walked over to the coffee table to pick it up. The text was from a familiar number.
"Hey!"
She sat on the couch and pondered how to respond, or whether to even respond at all.
J: Walter?
W: I hope I'm not interrupting.
J: What's the matter? Is Louise okay?
W: Everything's fine. She went out for a run.
J: OK
W: Do you have a minute?
J: I'm not sure that we should be texting, Walter.
W: I understand. I didn't mean to bother you. It's nothing serious.
J: OK
W: I just wanted to thank you.
J: Thank me for what?
W: The compliment.
J: ???
W: From the other day when you saw Louise.
J: OK
W: You said something about me being heroic.
J: Oh, that! OMG!
W: Anyway, thanks.
J: You could have been killed, Walter!
W: It wasn't really that bad.
J: Oh my God! Poor Terri! Is she okay? Has Louise talked to her?
W: Not sure. I think she's still pretty shaken up.
J: Well, thank you for intervening. That was a very serious situation.
W: I didn't really think about it. It seemed like the thing to do. Plus the guy was in my yard. I couldn't just ignore him.
J: Well, thank goodness that everyone's alright. We're all thankful that you showed up when you did.
W: So, you guys had a good time the other night?
J: Which other night?
W: At the Avalon.
J: It was okay. Just chitchat.
W: I guess you guys were dancing up a storm!
J: Just a couple of songs. No big deal.
W: Were there a lot of people there?
J: Just people from her office. I didn't know anyone really.
W: Yeah, the old office crowd...
J: Hey, Walter, I have to run. I have Pilates.
W: Oh, I'm sorry.
J: It's okay. Bye.
W: Hey Jo, can I just tell you one more thing?
J: OK
W: I'm sorry about what happened - with us
J: Walter, we don't have to get into all of that.
W: I just needed to say it. I never said the words.
J: It's okay, Walter. You have nothing to apologize for, Walter. Not to me.
W: What I did was unkind.
J: What you did was human, and you weren't alone. I don't really want to discuss it if that's okay.
W: I understand.
J: The point is that Louise loves you. If she didn't, she wouldn't have taken you back.
W: You're right. Absolutely.
J: I mean, she even forgave me, and I did the worst thing that a friend could do. Think of the strength that that must have taken.
W: It all seems surreal.
J: She's a good person, Walter. And you two are good together. Don't question that.
W: I won't. I don't.
J: OK?
W: Yeah, okay. Sorry.
J: I've gotta run.
W: I understand. Thanks.
'The Horse Farm'
Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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