of town.
She wasn’t too surprised to find herself the lone traveler on these well-maintained streets that housed larger, multi-level homes. Barbara suspected these homes were inhabited by busy mothers trying to get their children washed, clothed, fed, and ready for school. It was too early for any of them to be taking leisurely walks.
A familiar voice called out. “Barbara. Barbara Davies!”
Barbara looked about and caught sight of a slender, older woman approaching her. As the woman drew near, recognition dawned. “Good morning, Elaine. I didn’t expect to see anyone around at this hour.”
“No one usually is.” Elaine waved her hand to include the entire area. “These streets are mine for another twenty minutes or so. And then the mass exodus of children begins.”
“What a lovely area. Do you live around here?”
“Just a couple of streets over. I’m at twenty-seven Dublin. Do you have time for coffee?”
“No, I’m on my way to work. I got up earlier than usual and decided to take a walk.”
Elaine smiled as she examined Barbara’s attire. “That camel coat looks beautiful on you. And I like the scarf and broach you’ve added on your own.” She sighed. “If I wasn’t planning to close the shop, I would know exactly what styles to order for you.”
“You sound a bit down, Elaine. Is everything all right?”
“Just a few twinges of regret and a pinch of nervousness as well,” Elaine said. “I haven’t moved or done anything different for over forty years. Even though I’ve rocked my own boat, I still feel apprehensive about the future.”
Barbara put her hand on Elaine’s arm. “It’ll work out. You have friends in Toronto, and I’m certain you’ll find lots to do once you’re there.”
“I know. I just have to get through this transition period and I’ll be fine.” She took out a business card with her new address written on the back. “If you’re ever in Toronto, drop by for a visit. We can go out for lunch or dinner.”
Was this one of the signs that Sharon was talking about? Barbara shook her head in disbelief. “It’s the second invitation to Toronto that I’ve received in the last twenty-four hours.”
“I’m intrigued. Who gave you the other invitation?”
Barbara gave Elaine a quick rundown of the previous evening.
“I can’t believe that Sharon Clarke is still showing her face in Carden,” Elaine said. “That woman has no shame.”
“You know Sharon?”
“My dear, there’s no one in Carden who doesn’t know the infamous Sharon Clarke Jamieson Rossi Smith.”
“I take it she had three husbands.”
“And many other paramours we don’t know about,” Elaine said. “Sharon and her parents moved here when she was just finishing up high school. During her senior year, she managed to break up five couples. On the night of her senior prom, she took off with Peter Jamieson. They eloped and divorced one year later. I’m not certain how she met and left the other two gentlemen, but when she returned to Carden after a ten-year absence, she started having affairs with several of the married men in town. At one point, I think she got pregnant. No one knows what happened to the child.”
Barbara found it difficult to imagine that tall, slightly overweight woman wreaking so much damage. She didn’t look like the home-wrecker type. Barbara shared her thoughts with Elaine.
“She may look matronly now and spout all the New Age nonsense, but trust me, Sharon Clarke has not changed or evolved.” Elaine’s face paled. “Be very careful around her, Barbara. I know she is well connected in Toronto and sends many contracts our way, but I wouldn’t trust her with any personal business. And don’t pay too much attention to all that nonsense about the universe crashing down around you. I suspect she’s projecting her own past onto everyone she meets.”
It was good to hear that Sharon had a reputation for stirring up trouble. Barbara wasn’t too comfortable
She wasn’t too surprised to find herself the lone traveler on these well-maintained streets that housed larger, multi-level homes. Barbara suspected these homes were inhabited by busy mothers trying to get their children washed, clothed, fed, and ready for school. It was too early for any of them to be taking leisurely walks.
A familiar voice called out. “Barbara. Barbara Davies!”
Barbara looked about and caught sight of a slender, older woman approaching her. As the woman drew near, recognition dawned. “Good morning, Elaine. I didn’t expect to see anyone around at this hour.”
“No one usually is.” Elaine waved her hand to include the entire area. “These streets are mine for another twenty minutes or so. And then the mass exodus of children begins.”
“What a lovely area. Do you live around here?”
“Just a couple of streets over. I’m at twenty-seven Dublin. Do you have time for coffee?”
“No, I’m on my way to work. I got up earlier than usual and decided to take a walk.”
Elaine smiled as she examined Barbara’s attire. “That camel coat looks beautiful on you. And I like the scarf and broach you’ve added on your own.” She sighed. “If I wasn’t planning to close the shop, I would know exactly what styles to order for you.”
“You sound a bit down, Elaine. Is everything all right?”
“Just a few twinges of regret and a pinch of nervousness as well,” Elaine said. “I haven’t moved or done anything different for over forty years. Even though I’ve rocked my own boat, I still feel apprehensive about the future.”
Barbara put her hand on Elaine’s arm. “It’ll work out. You have friends in Toronto, and I’m certain you’ll find lots to do once you’re there.”
“I know. I just have to get through this transition period and I’ll be fine.” She took out a business card with her new address written on the back. “If you’re ever in Toronto, drop by for a visit. We can go out for lunch or dinner.”
Was this one of the signs that Sharon was talking about? Barbara shook her head in disbelief. “It’s the second invitation to Toronto that I’ve received in the last twenty-four hours.”
“I’m intrigued. Who gave you the other invitation?”
Barbara gave Elaine a quick rundown of the previous evening.
“I can’t believe that Sharon Clarke is still showing her face in Carden,” Elaine said. “That woman has no shame.”
“You know Sharon?”
“My dear, there’s no one in Carden who doesn’t know the infamous Sharon Clarke Jamieson Rossi Smith.”
“I take it she had three husbands.”
“And many other paramours we don’t know about,” Elaine said. “Sharon and her parents moved here when she was just finishing up high school. During her senior year, she managed to break up five couples. On the night of her senior prom, she took off with Peter Jamieson. They eloped and divorced one year later. I’m not certain how she met and left the other two gentlemen, but when she returned to Carden after a ten-year absence, she started having affairs with several of the married men in town. At one point, I think she got pregnant. No one knows what happened to the child.”
Barbara found it difficult to imagine that tall, slightly overweight woman wreaking so much damage. She didn’t look like the home-wrecker type. Barbara shared her thoughts with Elaine.
“She may look matronly now and spout all the New Age nonsense, but trust me, Sharon Clarke has not changed or evolved.” Elaine’s face paled. “Be very careful around her, Barbara. I know she is well connected in Toronto and sends many contracts our way, but I wouldn’t trust her with any personal business. And don’t pay too much attention to all that nonsense about the universe crashing down around you. I suspect she’s projecting her own past onto everyone she meets.”
It was good to hear that Sharon had a reputation for stirring up trouble. Barbara wasn’t too comfortable
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