“How do you think I am?”

“Well, I don’t know. Charlie came in and, well, we never had a chance to finish our conversation.”

Arms crossed, she stared at him. “Struck me, you were glad enough to see him and mighty glad to be rid of me.”

“I was shocked and flustered. I wasn’t very professional, I admit, but all I could think of was what might I have done or said to make you, well, you know.”

“To make me think you cared for me more than just as a person you counseled?” May’s shoulders sagged, and her jaw quivered. She lowered herself into the closest chair. Her hands gripped the arms. Lord help me, she thought. This is a thousand times worse than the PTA goof-up.

“You didn’t do anything but be kind to me. I hadn’t much kindness from any man. You were different, and I got, well, carried off by it.”

“I do like you, May, just not the way, well…”

“I don’t no more.”

“I can see that.”

May’s eyes grew sad. “I’m too old for you anyways and too country for a man of your education.”

He stood by the window, holding the hat in front of him. May wanted to yell, “Put that old hat down. I’m not going to come near you.”

“I don’t know what to say that will make you feel better. I’m very sorry. I handled it badly, very badly, and I hurt you. I am so sorry.”

“You waited a mighty long while to tell me. I been here weeks now,” May muttered. Leaning forward in the chair, she focused on her clasped hands. It ain’t so bad seeing him, talking like this. At least he don’t hate me. He looks so young. He is awful young, young as my youngest daughter. I been addle-headed as a calf in a hailstorm.

Even now, he talked to her gently, kindly, not yelling like Pa or Billie would have done. And it struck May that it was this kindness she had responded to by fancying herself in love with someone as young as her daughter. Lord, what had she been thinking? She felt embarrassed and foolish.

“I made a fool of myself,” she said. “Put us both in a bad position. I built it all out of place.”

“And I am sorry for anything I may have said or done to encourage your feelings. I should have realized. I’m sorry not to have been more insightful. I ought to have been aware of what was happening and discussed it with you long ago.”