An online novel by Gillette Edmunds

Mrs. Fisher woke her. “Would you like some company, dear?” she asked.

“Was I asleep?” Barbara asked, looking at all the T-W traveler’s seated ahead of her. She and Mrs. Fisher were in the back of the bus with an empty row between them and the rest of the group. Michael and Hardwood sat in the front row behind the driver with Johnny standing next to them translating all of Hardwoods questions to the driver.

After they left the city, Mrs. Fisher said to Barbara, “I wish there was something I could do for you.” They were passing flat fields of corn and wine grapes. Ancient roman walls and strips of aqueducts stuck out every few miles. “We haven’t really talked since I had to tell you about your husband and Mrs. Clarke.”

“So tell me,” Barbara said, “what’s it like to lose a husband?”

“I lost my husband five years ago,” Mrs. Fisher said. “He was a good companion.”

“It must have been terrible.”

“Every marriage is different, Barbara.” Mrs. Fisher looked out the window at a farm house surrounded by dusty unplanted fields. “I was married to the wrong man for thirty-nine years.”

Barbara sat up and looked down at the round faced, gray haired, squatty lady next to her. “What do you mean?” she asked.

“My husband married me because I was pregnant,” Mrs. Fisher said. “And because he was in love with me.”

“And you weren’t in love with him?”

“It’s all very complicated,” Mrs. Fisher said. “In those days, well, Barbara, I just never thought of divorcing Fred after he had been so kind as to marry me. Because his happiness was more important than mine, Barbara. Mind you, we all have our own moral codes. I have a wonderful son.”

“It wasn’t Fred’s child?” Barbara asked.