Fig. Apple. Banana Peels?
Painful humiliation. Cruel realization. The shadowy unpleasant smell of sex and betrayal. The neighbors, quietly hidden behind their ugly flowery curtains, are all watching. Helen holds her head high and her dignity together. She forbids her hands to shake. No, she's not going to cry. Though she wants to. And she needs to. She's going to find a damn good lawyer. She's going to piece her life back together. She's going to be happy. She's going to take a deep breath and get it over with. She's going to...She's going to...She wishes she knows what else to do. A purpose. A goal. A reason. A motive. An identity. Suddenly she feels so lost. But no, she's not going to give in. She's a good woman. She deserves better than this. She closes her eyes for a second, and then sets the pile of whiskey-soaked clothes on fire. Frank's shirts. Frank's pants. Frank's socks. Frank's blanket and pillow. Frank's underwear. Frank's lies. Frank's excuses. Frank's wishes and needs. She's done being Mrs. Plum. She doesn't even know when she has stopped dreaming.
Edna Mazur stands on the porch watching. Nope, she can't say she was surprised. Of course she has heard about the legendary love triangle. She has friends everywhere. And here, in this part of town, lonely talkative little old ladies know everyone's history. And she's never told Helen about this. It was the love story of the last century. The most beautiful girl in the neighborhood torn between two tall dark handsome boys. All is fair in love and war. At the end of the day, we all have to make a choice. The winner smiled his trademark charming smile and happily kissed his bride. The loser went away that very night and joined the Army. Time changed everything. Joe Morelli's Dad turned into a mean drunk and died young. Stephanie's Dad eventually came home, settled down, and lost all his sparks. But you never forget your first love. Yeah, talk about cliché. Edna shakes her head and comes to stand by Helen's side.
"Oh, Mother. How could he?" Helen's lips start to quaver, and she finally cries.
"It's gonna be okay." Edna wraps her thin arms around her heartbroken daughter. Good riddance. She never likes Frank.