“In a nutshell. It wasn’t just our marriage that needed saving though. It was we as individuals. We had everything society had told us would make us happy, and yet we were miserable. Why? What were we missing? We needed to figure it out. And then I listened to this radio show about a couple who moved to Maine and bought a blueberry farm, and they seemed so happy. At peace in a way I’d never known anyone to be. The next day, I looked up farms for sale and this one was listed by an older couple with no children who had decided to retire and downsize. Pumpkins, I thought. Pumpkins it is.”

“Just like that?”

She smiled. “If you understood the depth of my misery, you would understand the lack of fear. The decision was made in desperation, but it’s been the best thing we ever did.”

I took that in, not as surprised as I might have been had I heard the same story a few weeks ago, especially in light of what I’d been thinking about regarding happiness and gratitude and taking simple pleasures for granted.

Jane and I were both quiet for a few minutes as we sipped our wine. I stared at Tuck, deep in conversation with Tom as they now stood nearby, Tom pointing into the distance. Tuck wavered through the flames, his shifting form somehow making him all the more beautiful.

“He’s very handsome,” Jane said. I glanced at her to see her eyes on Tuck right before she gave me a smile.

“We grew up together,” I said, turning my gaze back to him. Funny how his form was still familiar to me even though he’d grown from a teen to a man in the time we’d been apart. He still had that particular stance though, and he still cocked his head just so when he was focusing on something. Or someone. “I used to watch him through windows like this when I was a little girl.” I’d had such a deep crush on him.

“You’re a beautiful couple.”

“Oh. No. No. We’re just…friends,” I settled on. Was that the right description of our relationship? Yes, yes, I thought so. We’d grown closer in the past few days, an understanding developing between us, forgiveness being sought by both.

“Oh. Really?” She frowned. “I didn’t get that impression. You seem…close. He watches you constantly.” As if he knew we were talking about him, or to prove Jane right, Tuck glanced over, his eyes finding mine.

“Tuck and I are complicated.”

She took a drink of wine. “Situations like the one we’re in tend to clarify things rather quickly.”