Page 131 of Taken Away

The office door opened. She jumped.

Walter stepped inside carrying a folder. Concern crossed his face immediately.

“You okay?”

Aubrey blinked. Forced a smile.

“Fine.”

Walter looked unconvinced. “That’s usually what people say right before they’re not.”

A laugh escaped her.

He set the folder on the desk.

“Mabel used to say the same thing.”

Aubrey glanced toward the photograph again.

“Can I ask you something?” she said.

Walter nodded. “Sure.”

She hesitated. Then finally asked, “Was my mother always like this?”

The question seemed to catch him off guard.

Walter studied her for several seconds before answering.

“Like what?”

“Absent.”

Walter sighed, the sound long and tired.

“Your mother always had one eye on the next thing.”

Aubrey looked down. That sounded painfully accurate.

“Men?”

A sad smile touched Walter’s face.

“Sometimes.”

Only sometimes. That answer told her everything.

Walter glanced toward the vineyard outside the window.

“Anne never liked standing still.”

“What about Mabel?”

The smile deepened.

“Mabel never liked leaving.”

Silence settled between them.