Taryn went to the boxcar in the woods. There she found her mentor, the person she talked to about most of her problems.
Elizabeth was her Uncle Paul's wife, older than Taryn, but not so much older that she didn't understand things.
V. Ardanowski was often there, too. V. was similar, and very helpful and kind, Taryn thought.
They were both artists, and had commandeered the boxcar as a studio. They were often to be seen there, working separately or together. Recently, they'd both had pieces entered into an exhibition downtown.
"I'm in luck," Taryn said, climbing in. "But you're not. Tell me to go away if you need to concentrate."
"What happened?" V. asked.
"I just broke up with Clay and then Toby told me he found out about me and Clay and now Toby's going to break up with me."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh. "Sorry, Taryn, but it's so perfect an end to this mess."
"Oh, you can laugh," Taryn said. "But Jere-no I'm not going to say the J word. I finally realized what I wanted in the first place was one boyfriend. And Toby wants one girlfriend."
"Makes you perfect for each other," Elizabeth said. "I agree."
"How did Toby find out?" V. asked.
"He has this snooping brother named Chad who saw me with Clay."
"His brother spied on you?"
"Well, no. Not really. But he saw me with Clay. He ran to Toby and tattled."
"Dunno," Elizabeth said. "I think Chad did right by Toby."
"Toby would never have known and this way Toby has his feelings hurt!" Taryn argued.
"But Toby knows the truth," V. said. "It's better for you, really, to get it all out rather than trying to hide it."
"Yes," Elizabeth agreed.
"I don't know," Taryn said. "A lot of time the truth getting out just makes more problems. Everybody doesn't have to know everything."
V. only smiled. "The trouble is greater the longer it is before someone finds out a thing," she said.
"Not always," Taryn said. "If Toby hadn't found out about this for another year or two, would he have been madder?"
"Maybe not," V. conceded. "But if you don't want him to find out, you have to hide it, and you didn't succeed, since his brother just saw you. Found you with no effort. I wish a lot of witnesses I'm looking for would be like that."
Elizabeth smiled. "Maybe Chad should be a police officer."
"He certainly has the knack for being in the right place at the right time," Taryn said. "That is, the right time for a snoop."
Elizabeth and V. exchanged amused glances.
"Well, I'm going to go all out to get Toby to forgive me," Taryn said. "I'm not sure what to do yet. Instinct says leave him alone for a little while. Another instinct says get to him before his brother can talk him more into breaking up with me."
"The first one is sound," Elizabeth said. "If he comes to you, it will be much easier for you."
Taryn sighed, exasperated. "You're right. Another aggravation. At least I got through the DUI thing without mom finding out."
"Thank God for small favors," V. added, as she added some paint onto her canvas.
"Yes, thank God," Taryn agreed.