Chapter 13
Ten years later, Antoinette had returned to Cascade to pick up some things that she had left behind in her haste. It wasn't very important, but some computer disks and jewelry. Since there was no sense in buying food for the four days she was there, she frequented restaurants. There, to her surprise, she met up with Jim and Blair. They came and sat at her table.
"So, wherever did you go?"
"Jim, I cannot tell you that."
"The case was closed, unsolved. The best part was the Patricia's body disappeared."
"I know it disappeared. When I saw you, we knew we had to avoid an investigation."
"Who's we?" Jim asked.
"None of your business."
"So I know this person?"
"Let's not talk about this. It is the past and is no longer relevant."
"I love you," Jim said so suddenly and so out of context of the conversation it was almost funny, but there was seriousness in his eyes.
"Oh, Jim, I am so sorry," was Antoinette's only response.
"I really do, and I would give anything to spend the rest of my life with you."
"No, I cannot let you do that. You do not realize what you are saying. Besides, I have married someone," there was a pause as Antoinette searched for the right words. Antoinette decided that this next thought was of the utmost importance. "Jim, he is like me. Jim, I hope you can understand what I mean. You will find someone, like you. It just will not work. I would feel so guilty every time I looked at you and thought about you. I cannot take everything away from you. You do not understand."
"But I love you. I really do. I don't want to be with anyone but you. Can't you get a divorce? I will die, you can always remarry him," Jim yelled creating a scene as he jumped to his feet. His face was turning red with anger and embarrassment.
"I know; I could but I cannot. I do love my husband. Besides, I cannot bear you any fruit. Do you understand? We are like different species."
Jim didn't answer. He just turned around and left the restaurant. Blair went running after him. Antoinette got up to follow too, but didn't. She decided that she should leave this well enough alone. She went back to her table and continued to eat, deep in thought. Then she realized it. Jim left with tears in his eyes. She felt terrible but she knew it was for his own good. It would be too painful to watch him grow old while she remained young. Jim would probably want to have children, but she knew she couldn't have children. "We could adopt," he would say, but then she would have to watch a child that she loved and cared for grow old and die. How painful! She knew this was best.
Antoinette paid her check and walked to the car she rented with her suitcase and the things she came back for and went on her way to the airport to go home to her husband.
Ten years later, Antoinette had returned to Cascade to pick up some things that she had left behind in her haste. It wasn't very important, but some computer disks and jewelry. Since there was no sense in buying food for the four days she was there, she frequented restaurants. There, to her surprise, she met up with Jim and Blair. They came and sat at her table.
"So, wherever did you go?"
"Jim, I cannot tell you that."
"The case was closed, unsolved. The best part was the Patricia's body disappeared."
"I know it disappeared. When I saw you, we knew we had to avoid an investigation."
"Who's we?" Jim asked.
"None of your business."
"So I know this person?"
"Let's not talk about this. It is the past and is no longer relevant."
"I love you," Jim said so suddenly and so out of context of the conversation it was almost funny, but there was seriousness in his eyes.
"Oh, Jim, I am so sorry," was Antoinette's only response.
"I really do, and I would give anything to spend the rest of my life with you."
"No, I cannot let you do that. You do not realize what you are saying. Besides, I have married someone," there was a pause as Antoinette searched for the right words. Antoinette decided that this next thought was of the utmost importance. "Jim, he is like me. Jim, I hope you can understand what I mean. You will find someone, like you. It just will not work. I would feel so guilty every time I looked at you and thought about you. I cannot take everything away from you. You do not understand."
"But I love you. I really do. I don't want to be with anyone but you. Can't you get a divorce? I will die, you can always remarry him," Jim yelled creating a scene as he jumped to his feet. His face was turning red with anger and embarrassment.
"I know; I could but I cannot. I do love my husband. Besides, I cannot bear you any fruit. Do you understand? We are like different species."
Jim didn't answer. He just turned around and left the restaurant. Blair went running after him. Antoinette got up to follow too, but didn't. She decided that she should leave this well enough alone. She went back to her table and continued to eat, deep in thought. Then she realized it. Jim left with tears in his eyes. She felt terrible but she knew it was for his own good. It would be too painful to watch him grow old while she remained young. Jim would probably want to have children, but she knew she couldn't have children. "We could adopt," he would say, but then she would have to watch a child that she loved and cared for grow old and die. How painful! She knew this was best.
Antoinette paid her check and walked to the car she rented with her suitcase and the things she came back for and went on her way to the airport to go home to her husband.