The Good Neighbor Read Online Free PDF Page A

them, sitting at the
table, eating dinner as if we were a family. I realized suddenly
how crazy it was for me to think such things. I didn’t know them
well enough to think like that. I didn’t know if Carla wanted me to
have such thoughts. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to have such
thoughts. Yes, I’d decided that enough was enough already with the
moping, but had I decided that I was ready for such radical notions
as a family?
    My thoughts must’ve shown on my face because
Carla was looking at me, worried. She didn’t question me until
later, after we had loaded the dishwasher.
    She spun to face me. “Alright, Owen, spill
it.”
    I opened my mouth to deny that there was
anything to spill, but she didn’t let me speak. Instead, she took
my arm in her hand and led me to the living room where we sat on
the couch.
    “I know something’s bothering you. I can see
it on your face. I told you I’m a good listener. And I’m all ears.”
She was facing me, legs folded beneath her. She put her elbow on
the back of the couch and propped her head up with it.
    I told her everything from coming home after
work one day to find my wife leaving me, to Jill telling me to plug
the hole. My falling apart, my depression, the way I couldn’t stand
to be in my house. I told her all of it. Well, I told her most of
it. Some things were meant to remain unsaid.
    “And you still wear the ring.” She reached
over and picked up my left hand, holding it gently in hers. As she
twisted my ring around my finger, it was hard to remember why I’d
kept it on so long. “That’s sweet. And sad.” She continued to stare
at the ring as she spun it around my finger, lost in thought.
    I had a few thoughts of my own. I’d never
been this close to her. I’d never been this close to anyone other
than Holly, as a matter of fact. Holly and I had begun dating in
high school, and I’d never been with anyone else. I don’t mean
emotionally close, but physically close.
    My heart was pounding. The scent of her
perfume was delicate and intoxicating. I breathed through my nose,
trying to memorize the smell. Her skin was soft and every bit as
delicate as her scent. As I watched her slender fingers spin the
ring that was placed on my hand by a woman who obviously never
loved me, I was overcome by the urge to rip the ring off and flush
it down the toilet with all the dreams I’d had of growing old with
Holly. Of course, if I wasn’t wearing it, she wouldn’t be holding
my hand and her knee wouldn’t be resting against mine.
    “Think you’ll ever take it off?” she asked,
resting her head against the back of the couch.
    “I’m sure I will. I think it’s time.” She
stopped spinning my ring, but didn’t let go of my hand. She
absentmindedly caressed my fingers lightly. “So what about you?
How’d you become a single mom?”
    “I loved a man who loved himself.” I heard
the pain in her voice as she spoke. “We were married for nine
years. I gave him everything I had, only to find out he was giving
all he had to someone else. Then, I found out it wasn’t the first
time he’d cheated on me. It crushed me. But I have kids to think
about, so I divorced him and went on with my life as if he’d never
been a part of it.” She looked at me, still holding my hand.
“There’ll come a point when you do the same.”
    I squeezed her hand slightly. I knew she was
right. I could feel that point rapidly approaching.
    “I better go,” I said, standing. “It’s
getting late.”
    Carla stood with me. “Do you have to go so
soon?”
    “Yeah, Andy will be leaving for work soon.
He’ll want to give me some crap, I’m sure.”
    “About being here?” I could see by the smile
she wore that she knew it would be about her.
    I nodded and we laughed. She walked me to the
door. I turned to her and thanked her for feeding and listening to
me. She assured me it was a pleasure to do both, and begged me to
come back soon. I told her I would, and after a quick