Chapter 37 Section ten

Decker accompanied Beth through the dark gate and into the flower-filled yard.They stopped under the gatehouse. The lights on the second floor were on, and Beth had left them on as she left.She reached out again and wrapped the shawl tightly around her body.Decker wasn't sure if it was nervousness. "You're telling the truth, even though it's July, the nights here are pretty cold." Beth took a deep breath and smelled something. "There is a fragrance in the air that smells like wormwood." "Probably the California evergreen shrubs that line your driveway, which are also Artemisia."

Beth nodded.Now Decker was sure she was nervous. "Okay," she held out her hand, "thank you for this amazing night with me." "You're welcome." Decker shook her hand. "And, I'm sorry to have left you alone in the theater." Beth shrugged. "I'm not mad. Actually, I'm used to this kind of thing. My husband used to do this kind of thing. He always interrupted the evening social activities to answer business calls or make phone calls." "I'm sorry if I brought up painful memories for you." "It's not your fault, don't worry about it." Beth looked at her feet and then at the night sky. "It's a big step for me. Last night and tonight was the first time since Ray died that I—" She hesitated. "...going out with another man."

"I understand." "I've often wondered if I could handle this," Beth said, "and not just dating someone else after 10 years of marriage, but—" She hesitated again. "Fear that doing so would be disloyal to Ray." "Even after he died," Decker said. Beth nodded. "Ghosting in relationships," Decker said. "Exactly." "What else?" Decker asked. "How do you feel now?" "You mean, other than reminiscing about a nervous teenage girl standing in a doorway saying goodbye to her first date," Beth pursed her lips into a grin. "I think," she became serious. "It's complicated."

"I dare say so." "I'm so glad I took this step." Beth breathed a long sigh of relief. "I don't regret it at all. I mean it. Thank you for spending this amazing night with me." She seemed to herself very satisfied. "Hi, I'm not young anymore, and I'm qualified to take the initiative to invite you to go out with me." Decker laughed. "I love being invited. If you allow me, I'd like to ask you back." "Well," said Beth, "in a while." "In a while," Decker agreed.He knew she meant that she needed a little distance.

Beth took the key out of a dainty purse and put it in the keyhole.Coyotes howled among the hills. "Good night." "Good night."