I know this is a short chapter, especially after being away so long. But I wanted to provide something with my explanation for the long absence, especially since I don't know when I will be able to update again.

A family member was injured and I was needed to take care of them. Unfortunately that left me with zero time to myself for anything. Hopefully soon that will change but I ask for patience and understanding till then.

Nick received a call from his former neighbor, the nice old lady who lived next door to the old Victorian. "Nick, dear, my son and daughter in law are interested in buying your house, and were wondering if you were interested in selling it. I told them that you're hardly ever there. That since Juliette left, I've only ever seen you enter the house once a month, and you only ever stay a few minutes."

"I can't really do anything about the house until Juliette gets in touch with me. Her name is on the deed too. So her signature would be needed."

"Oh dear. I thought that she would have relinquished everything to you before she left. You know I saw her loading her things in her car. She took multiple trips, so I had time to ask her why she was leaving. I assumed the two of you has a fight. But what she said to me was so strange. She said that she was tired of being loved unconditionally. She was sick of not being able to say or do anything that would push you away. So now she had to be the bad guy in the relationship and end things. I asked her why she would want to end things. Do you know she actually said, because you're too perfect? Too loving, too kind, too devoted? Then she pointed to me and said, "And that is why I have to go. That look that everyone will be giving me because I broke up with the guy that everybody loves." Nick dear, it was then I realized that she must have been one of this bizarre people who need conflict and drama in their lives in order to be content. And if it doesn't happen naturally, they'll create it."

"I had no idea Juliette felt that way. I wished she would have come and talked to me about it."

"She knew you would have tried to fix things. But she wanted conflict. I know. My niece is similar. Nothing but drama in every relationship she's ever had. That's why she's been married and divorced three times before the age of thirty. I love her dearly, but I barely speak to her because she insists on filling the conversation with complaints about the man she is with, then complains that she is constantly being left. I once tried to give her advice, but she made it clear she didn't want it. That's how I knew not to try to dissuade Juliette from leaving without at least talking to you."

"Why didn't you tell me all of this before?"

"You were already hurting. I didn't want to add to it. But you seemed to have moved on. I was at the farmer's market the other day and I saw you with a pretty young lady. I was going to approach you, say hello, but the two of you seemed to be in your own little world. You were both smiling so brightly. I couldn't bare to intrude. It was wonderful seeing you happy again. I just wish Juliette had taken care of her responsibilities, so you could be free to move on."

When Nick told Adalind about the conversation he had with his former neighbor, she agreed. She didn't say it out loud, but she thought Juliette was a bitch for leaving Nick stuck with the house. She wasn't contributing anything to the mortgage or the taxes, but she would still be entitled to half of the proceeds if or when the house was sold.

Adalind decided to talk to her coworkers. There had to be some way to help Nick out of the mess Juliette had left him in.