“I
have a strong constitution.”
“Perhaps you need some amendments.”
“I do have the right to remain silent.”
He grinned. “Okay, you win… for now.”
Anne fidgeted a little more until she finally broke the silence. “I’m really kind of excited. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“You like trying new things?”
“I’ll try almost anything. And Charlotte is just like me, or even worse. She’s a real daredevil. But Emily is the serious, mature one—always playing it safe. She likes to read about adventure instead of experiencing it.”
“They’re not married?”
“No, but they’re still young, twenty-three and twenty-one.”
“But you were married by then?”
Anne answered defensively, “Yes, I got married when I was twenty, while I was still in college, but I did finish my degree. We were just so in love, we couldn’t wait two extra years.”
“How did your husband die?”
For a brief moment, the memory flashed fresh in her mind, and her stomach tightened. She must’ve made a face, because Gherring apologized.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s been fifteen years… fifteen years this November. It was the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday, and he’d driven to pick up his folks in the country. They were driving back on the highway, just after dark, when a drunken teenager in a big truck crossed the centerline and ran head-on into the car. The girls lost their dad and their grandparents that night, and those poor parents lost their son.”
“Weren’t you angry?”
“Oh sure. Shocked, angry, depressed, worried, sad… You name it, I felt it. But I had two girls to take care of and no time to wallow in self-pity. My faith and family and friends carried me through it.” She blinked at her watery eyes. “And I’ve had a great life. Losing Tom made me realize how precious each day is—every moment with someone you love.”
“But fifteen years? And you’ve never remarried? That’s a long time to be alone.”
“That’s the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. How old are you? Forty-five? Fifty? Fifty-five? You’ve never married at all.”
Gherring frowned. “I just turned fifty! Do you think I look fifty-five?”
Anne smirked—she’d known exactly how old he was. Trust an assault to a man’s ego to make him forget about his uncomfortable line of questioning.
“The car stopped, so I guess we’ll have to postpone this conversation.” Her voice was cheery as she climbed out of the limousine. Gherring followed with a grumpy expression.
Anne walked into the climbing gym, staring in amazement at the immense climbing wall, peppered with climbers in various extremely uncomfortable-looking positions, some scaling areas with overhangs, one hanging precariously by one hand some thirty feet above the floor. The single-handed climber suddenly lost his grip and dropped. Anne gasped as he fell, but he only swung harmlessly in his harness before he managed to regain his handhold.
Gherring cocked his head. “You didn’t watch the climbers when you came here before?”
“Yes, of course, but no one fell when I was watching.” She hoped her lie was reasonable. He seemed to accept her statement, so she relaxed a bit.
Katie approached with Gary in tow.
Gary clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey Steven. What’re you planning to climb tonight? Alan laid out a new route that’s probably at least a five thirteen.”
“Sounds great. But first we want to get the girls on the wall.”
“Not me,” said Katie. “I’m just here to admire my man.” She playfully squeezed Gary’s bicep.