LITMIR.BIZ

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it into a lodge?” he asked.

      “No, why would I?”

      “Just a thought. How are you for finances these days, now that you’re no longer working?”

      “Aunt Aggie’s money provides me with enough. Besides, living here doesn’t cost much,” I replied, beginning to wonder why he was asking me these questions.

      “Must cost a bundle to maintain this old building, though?”

      I nodded. I’d just finished writing out a cheque for five thousand dollars to pay for the drilling of a new well.

      “Ever think of selling it?”

      My antenna went on alert. “Of course not.”

      Gareth rocked back and forth in Aunt Aggie’s chair. He puffed on his cigarette, then took a drink. I waited.

      Finally he said, “Look, I might as well not beat about the bush any longer. I’ve got this client who’s looking for a property exactly like yours to develop a resort. I know I could arrange it so you’d get top dollar.”

      “Now the truth comes out,” I said, trying to keep from shouting. But before I had a chance to really blast him, a loud pounding from the other side of the house cut me off.

      Half-hoping it might be Eric, I went to answer it. As I turned the corner of the verandah, I said, “Hi Eric, glad—” and stopped. Instead of Eric standing at the front door, it was the grinning mass of Charlie Cardinal.

      Too startled for words, I could only gape.

      “Expecting your boyfriend, eh? Whatever would your husband think? Tell Mr. Patterson I’m here.”

      “You never mentioned a boyfriend, Megs,” sounded Gareth’s voice at my ear. “He this guy Eric you called me on the phone? Never mind, we can talk about him later. Go inside while I see what this guy wants.”

      Gareth brushed past me and down the verandah stairs with Charlie Cardinal in tow and a barking Sergei not far behind. I remained rooted, trying to fathom why Charlie Cardinal was here, let alone how he knew Gareth.

      I watched Gareth march towards his car, abruptly turn around and jab his finger into Charlie’s chest. Charlie just stood there and took the full force of Gareth’s anger. For a second, I almost felt for Charlie, for I knew too well how it felt to be pummelled into the ground by Gareth’s scathing words. I strained to hear, but caught only the familiar condescending tone of his voice. I moved closer.

      “I told you not to come here,” Gareth hissed. “If you screw up this deal, Charlie, I’ll kill you.”

      His face twisted in anger, he finally noticed me. “Get inside, Meg. This has nothing to do with you.”

      Old habits die hard. I started to do his bidding, then I woke up. “The only person leaving is you . . . and your henchman,” I shouted.

      “Now, Megs, no need to get yourself worked up. You’ve got it all wrong.” Gareth tried to erase his anger with a conciliatory smile. But it didn’t work. The glint of sarcasm had returned to his eyes.

      And I was suddenly back to where we’d been three years ago. Gareth standing over me, saying those exact words in that same patronizing tone after I’d finally mustered up my courage to confront him about Janice. His words hadn’t stopped me. Determined to find out the truth, I’d believed that once he admitted to the affair that that would end it, and we’d go back to being the loving couple we were supposed to be. How stupid. All I got was a trip to the hospital after he’d slammed me against the kitchen counter.

      This time I wasn’t going to be a fool. I was going to do what I should have done then.

      I turned around and walked back to the verandah, where not five minutes ago we’d almost been old friends. I grabbed his keys and cell phone, went inside and locked the door behind me. I locked all the other outside doors. Then I stomped back to the front door. I wrenched it open, threw his stuff as far as I could and shouted. “Gareth, it’s over. If you’re not gone in five minutes, I’m calling the police.”

      I returned inside and double locked the door. I held my breath and waited. Silence reigned. Even Sergei had stopped barking. I peeked out the side window. Where minutes before tenderness had gazed out of clear brown eyes, now only anger flashed.

      He walked towards the stairs. “Megs, listen to me,” he shouted. “You’ve got it all wrong. Let me in, and I’ll tell you the whole truth.”

      I stepped away from the door. He started hammering on it. “Damn you, let me in!” I heard Sergei’s muffled growls. “Get away, you damn dog!” Gareth snarled.

      “Keep at it, dog,” I whispered and retreated into the living room.

      The pounding filled the room, filled my head. What was I going to do? I was miles from help. I stood frozen, emotions whirling, afraid to move. A sudden yelp from Sergei woke me up.

      “Leave the dog alone!” I cried.

      I ran to the kitchen, grabbed the phone and a butcher knife. I dialled Eric’s number and got only his voice mail. I called the provincial police and was told it would take at least twenty minutes. I tried the Migiskan Police, but they were tied up on another call.

      I’d have to deal with Gareth myself.

      I took a deep breath, clutched the knife firmly and walked steadily to the front door. The hammering had stopped. I waited. I strained my ears, expecting to hear Gareth’s ragged breathing behind the door. Nothing. Total silence.

      And then I heard the sound of engines firing up. By the time I got to the window, Gareth’s company car was roaring down the drive with Charlie’s red Yukon in hot pursuit. A yapping Sergei chased after them as I collapsed into Aunt Aggie’s rocker.

      TWENTY

      The sound of their engines was still reverberating through the hills when rage took over. And it was rage directed not at Gareth, but at myself. Sure, he’d betrayed me, but he was only being the bastard he’d always been. He hadn’t changed. Why should he?

      And I hadn’t changed either. Despite all my efforts to escape his controlling grip, I’d still been sucked in. Like a dewy-eyed bitch, I’d fallen for his phony line. He didn’t need to do more than smile, bat his puppy eyes, and I was hooked. Just like every other time.

      “God damn it!” I shouted to the walls. I kicked at the chesterfield and threw the cushions to the floor. I pounded on the coffee table and almost broke my hand. Then I saw the Chaki painting still leaning against the wall where I’d dropped it.

      With single-minded purpose, I walked over, picked it up and marched outside to the overhanging bulge in the verandah. I leaned over the railing as far as I could and flung it into the air. It soared down the cliff wall like a flying saucer, then a sudden gust of wind picked it up and deposited it in the twisted crown of a pine growing out of the rock. I couldn’t even do that right.

      I marched into my bedroom, put on some outdoor clothes and hiking boots and stomped outside. I needed to get out of there. This time, vodka wouldn’t do the trick. I needed to drown myself in the wilds.

      I stomped along the trail towards the Lookout, through Aunt Aggie’s now defunct sugar bush. I kicked my anger out on the fallen leaves, creating a mini bow wave of shifting gold. As if knowing better than to stay near me, Sergei raced up the trail and was soon lost behind the converging trunks of the maple trees.

      I cursed myself with every forward step. I was an idiot and a fool. All the things Gareth had called me at one time or another. Well, I wasn’t going to be a fool any longer. It was clear Gareth would never be the man I’d thought I’d married. He was a selfish, controlling bastard, always had been and always would be. It was high time I accepted it. I had my own life now. I didn’t need him any more.

      Around the next bend in the trail, the remains of Aunt Aggie’s maple sugar operation loomed into view, and with them came

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