It Happened on Maple Street

She nodded and, with tears in her eyes, turned and walked toward her gate.

Leaving her was excruciating. He’d just spent the greatest twenty-four hours of his life since 1977 and he was going home to an empty house and a life without Tara.

I’ve landed, and miss you like hell. I love you.

He sent the text to her when he landed in Ohio, but he knew it would be hours before she answered because she was on her flight home.

I’m home, Babe. I love you, and miss you more than ever.

Her text came in at four in the morning.

He was lying awake in bed without her. Something was going to have to change. Quickly. He’d already lost thirty years of a life with her. He wasn’t going to lose any more.

Less than a week after he returned from Atlanta, Tim had reached the limit on his patience, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Tara was in Albuquerque alone, dealing with her ex-husband and making plans to move to Phoenix. Her mother had taken the news of the divorce well, and she knew about Tim, too.

Her life was falling into place without him while he drove to work in the cold every day, did the same job he’d been doing for twenty years, and then drove home in the cold to an empty house. The Wednesday after he’d returned from Atlanta, he couldn’t face the empty house again.

He went instead to the local pub around the corner. It had been years since he’d been out drinking, and Rick, a fellow eng

ineer from work, had mentioned that he was going to be at the pub. Tim texted Tara and let her know he was out having dinner and a drink with a guy from work.

The first drink went down smooth and tasted good, so he ordered another. And then one more.

About that time, a text came in from Tara.

Hey, Babe, how’s dinner going?

He hurried to answer her.

Din good. Be bette ifff u are heee.

“Who are you texting?” Rick asked.

“I’ve been seeing a lady named Tara, Tara Gumser,” Tim said, pouring his heart out to a guy he’d been working with for fifteen years and who’d never even heard of Denise.

“To be exact, she was my first love and probably the reason I haven’t married all these years,” he continued.

He ordered another drink, not quite numb enough yet. But he was getting close.

His phone signaled another text.

How much have you had to drink, Tim?

Onlu 2 Hoo boit u

He thought that seemed right.

Then why are you misspelling so many words?

He was sure it was the phone messing up, but just to be sure, he paid his tab and headed for home.

An hour later, when Tara texted to tell him goodnight, he wasn’t feeling so well. He had no defenses. And no inhibitions, either. It was time to take care of business.

He texted her back.

I love you.

I love you, too, Babe.