* * * * *

The next evening, I was sitting on my couch in the sunken living room, feet to the seat, arms around my calves, chin to my knees, eyes to the darkening sky over the sea that had been gray all day, and stormy (reflecting my mood), thinking, priority: since I’d sold mine (all four of them), I needed to get a new TV.

Immediately.

I had not had dinner (or lunch, or breakfast for that matter). And I didn’t have a glass of wine beside me (though I wanted one, I just had an empty stomach and Mickey’s ex made me worry I wasn’t consuming much anymore, but I was going through wine like crazy).

So I was sitting there alone, as always, in a way that felt like it would be forever, wondering where the day went.

The only thing I’d done was make plans to go out with Josie and Alyssa to begin Cliff Blue Project: Phase Two on Wednesday, Alyssa’s day off from her salon.

That’s all I’d done.

Except wallow in my misery.

The doorbell rang.

I stiffened, feeling every sinew tighten inside me, and closed my eyes.

Shit.

Mickey.

“You’re a big girl, Amelia, you’ve gotta grow the fuck up,” my mouth told me.

I was right.

I had to grow up, get up, and go to the door.

I thought moving to Maine was the first step to the new me.

It wasn’t.

Walking to the door to face Mickey was.

Shit.

As hard as it was, I uncurled, got off the couch, headed to the door and I did this swiftly. Not because I wanted to get to the door. Not because I was smart enough to go fast in order to get something unpleasant, harrowing and utterly mortifying over and done with as quickly as possible.

Because I didn’t want to leave Mickey waiting.

I allowed myself slight relief that I’d at least had a shower and changed clothes that day before I unlocked and opened the door.

I lifted my eyes and put every effort into not wincing when I caught his.

Then I said, “Hey.”

“Hey, Amy,” he replied gently.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I’m sorry you had to come over here and I wasn’t big enough to go to you and apologize. I’m even sorrier I did what I did. I was half-asleep but that’s no excuse. You shouldn’t have anyone touching you who you don’t want touching you. I don’t know what came over me. But I do know, and want you to know, I’m really so very sorry.”

“It isn’t that, darlin’,” he said quietly. “You’re very…”

He trailed off but kept his eyes pinned to mine and I knew in that instant he did it so they wouldn’t wander. They wouldn’t become assessing.

But his next word and the hesitation said everything.

And it destroyed me.

“Attractive.”

I fought back another wince.

“It’s just that you don’t shit where you live,” he went on. “And, babe, you live right across the street and we both got kids.”