She tapped Cat on the knee. “I made ament about how Daniel had disappointed me in so many ways… Ben got ufortable as for him it’s like speaking ill of the recently deceased. Finding you had been in his bed doing… that, it was probably too jarring for him.”


    Cat suddenly looked cross. “How can he judge us? He doesn’t know what our rtionships with our husbands had be!”


    She looked at her despondent friend. “And that’s why he kept apologizing! He knows he shouldn’t. I truly believe he’s not trying to but you know how his own marriage ended. He’lle around. If we give him a little time and let him know what we’ve been through he’ll get it.”


    Catherine suddenly stood up. “I have to apologize!”


    Gabrie grabbed her hand. “Tomorrow is soon enough. Let him get his bearings.”


    “Have… have I lost him?” the blonde sank back to the couch clinging to her hand.


    Gabrie was conflicted. She didn’t want to hurt Cat. She truly was her best friend. But she also wanted Ben. She closed her eyes. “No. Give him time. We’ll go speak with him tomorrow. You can apologize then.”


    The next morning Ben stood by his front window drinking an herbal tea to warm his insides as he watched the gentle fall of snowkes. He’d done a limited version of his workout routine, showered, gotten dressed, and had his breakfast.


    It looked like he was going to have to get a new mattress. The cleaning job he’d tried the day before actually did more damage than good. Maybe he’d go to the shop today to order a recement. He’d dragged in a queen mattress from one of the guest rooms but it looked odd on the California King tform.


    Two doors over on the north side of the street he saw a man get out of his car and get something from his trunk. A few minutester and covered in snow the man drove away leaving a Realty sign hammered into the hard ground. The Millers were moving from the neighborhood. Another neighbor he didn’t know too well. He recalled that she wasn’t home when they’d tried to reach her for that little get together. He wondered if Gabrie and Catherine had reached out to… Sarah, that was her name. Shit. He felt bad that he hadn’t had a chance to say anything to her since the ident. He’d barely spoken to her before that either. He’d seen her around, waved, said their good morning and evenings, just basic neighbor stuff. He’d also seen her a few times while he was mowing his frontwn in the summer. She’d sometimes join the otherdies in the park with her boys. Now she was leaving.


    He looked at the clock. It was a little past nine so Gabrie should be awake. He dialed her number and she picked up on the third ring.


    “Good morning, Ben! Sleep well?” she asked. He could hear the smile in her voice. It always brought his mood up to talk with her.


    “Good morning, Gabrie! I slept alright. Yourself?”


    “Very well now that you’re back. What’s up?”


    “I just noticed someone putting a for sale sign on the Miller’s ce. Have they left? I never got a chance to give her my condolences.” he asked.


    “I’m sorry Ben. Sarah moved out with her boys a month ago. The house is empty.”


    “Ah. Well. It’s good she’s taking steps to move forward. I hope she’s happy.” Ben said.


    “Ben, you are such a sweet man!” Gabrie smiled.


    “It was just such a shock to so many people right here in our neighborhood.” he mumbled.


    “I understand what you were trying to tell me in the car yesterday Ben. About being disced in time. I get it. We’ve had time to adjust and you haven’t.” Gabrie said. “I hope you understand that we were all in different ces in our rtionships with our husbands when the ident happened. Some of us discovered some time ago that our husbands were that in name only. That was when we mourned.”


    “Gabrie, I am so sorry if I was critical of you in any way yesterday. It’s not my ce to judge you or Catherine or anyone. I’m thest person who should be doing that!” Ben expressed.


    “Speaking of Catherine, she exined to me what happened yesterday at your ce. Initially I was as shocked as you were but after hearing the exnation I can understand how it happened. She’s mortified and worried that you hate her now.” she said.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    “Hate her? Of course, I don’t hate her. I can’t say I’m not disappointed that she thought I’d be OK with her having sex in my bed-”


    “Ben! She didn’t have sex in your bed… well, not really. She was alone and asleep.” Gabrie exined gently.


    “What?” he said, confused.


    “She went over to change the sheets like she said and fell asleep on your bed. Then… she had some nice dreams. That’s all! She panicked when we arrived just after she woke up. She made a mistake, Ben. Can you forgive her?”


    Ben was quiet for a moment. “I’d like to hear it from her if you don’t mind.”


    “Of course! She’s dying to apologize. I told her to give you a little space yesterday.” she said gratefully.


    Ben was quiet again. “You really are a good friend to Catherine.” he said.


    It was Gabrie’s turn to be quiet. “Yes. I- she’s my best friend.” she finally murmured.


    “That’s one of things I most admire about you, Gabrie. Your loyalty.” Ben said honestly.


    “Not the first attribute a woman desires to beplimented on, Ben, but a nice one.” she smiled.


    “Your beauty and grace are truly breathtaking but loyalty is a much more precious and rare virtue these days. Sorry if I’ve ced a higher value on that.” he expressed.


    Gabrie was silent again and Ben was worried he’d offended her somehow.


    “Did I say something wrong?” he asked.


    “No Ben, not at all.” He heard the smile in her voice and breathed a sigh of relief.


    “It’s Saturday, isn’t it? Do you think we might be able to get together with whoever is avable and catch up with how people are doing?” he asked.


    “Sure, let me make some phone calls and I’ll call you back.” she replied.


    “Thanks!” he said and hung up.


    Just before noon he was standing in front of Catherine’s door feeling nervous. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way as he hadn’t done anything wrong.