Chapter 15
Lenore and I did not reconcile romantically.
We did become capable of sharing a terrace without emotional warfare.
That took almost two years.
Patrick remained Simon’s friend.
Not best friend.
Not brother.
Friend.
Enough.
Lenore attended some races because Patrick raced.
She stayed away from Simon unless he approached.
Good.
One afternoon Simon handed her his repaired first sailboat.
She froze.
“You want me to hold it?”
“Yes.”
She took it with both hands.
Carefully.
“What do I do?”
“Nothing.”
He ran to get lemonade.
Lenore stood there holding the object she once smashed.
Her eyes filled.
I did not make a speech.
When Simon returned, she handed it back.
No apology repeated.
Behavior did the work.
Later she told me:
“I used to think forgiveness meant everything went back.”
“No.”
“I know.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Good.
Acceptance does not require enjoying consequence.
