The two women sat at the table in the breakfast nook becoming acquainted over their morning coffee while a diapered baby sat in a playpen watching them intently.
He appeared to be a little less than a year old and was the very picture of a sweet, innocent babe.
The tot picked up a baby bottle lying on the floor of the playpen, put the nipple into his mouth and began to nurse without ever taking his eyes from the two women.
“So..,” the first woman said, “you had the house built and moved in.
That was what,…six months ago?”
“About that, I think,” replied the second woman.
She looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.
“Let’s see, Colin and I will have been here six months next week.
We like it up here, even though it’s so far from town.
I would have preferred to be a little closer to town.
Still, I moved to the country to have privacy and I’ve found it.
You’re my closest neighbor and you’re at least a half mile away from me.”
“Two miles,” said her neighbor succinctly “It’s two miles from my house to yours. Although my property line does start about three-quarters of a mile from your house.”
The woman reached over and put her hand on her neighbor’s arm and said,
“Well, it’s close enough to be neighbors and far enough away to be good neighbors.”
They both chuckled at that.
“I wanted to ask you Peggy, it can be frightening for a young woman living out here alone without a man.
I haven’t seen anyone other than you and Colin living here.
Are you widowed or divorced?”, said her neighbor.
Peggy shook her head and said,
“Neither, I’m married, but don’t expect to see a man around here, Maureen.”
“I’m sorry, Peggy. I didn’t mean to open any old wounds. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business, really,” said Maureen.
“No, it’s okay.
It’s just….It’s just that I don’t want the story to get around.
It’s one of the reasons we moved out here.
I’d rather not have everyone know about the private details of my life.”
She looked into Maureen’s eyes and said,
“I can tell you, I think. It seems like we’ve known each other all our lives. After what you told me about your ex-husband, I think you’d understand,” said Peggy.
Maureen’s expression became serious and she said,
“Honey, whatever’s happened to you or whatever you’ve done, you can tell me.
I can keep a secret.
The Hill Country’s full of people with secrets.
You’re not the only one.”
“Well,…” Peggy began, “It’s a long story.
I don’t know if you have the time.
It might take all morning.”
