gisingazyeveningily
paulakingthesandbloontchedthesceneinsilence,tryingnottofeelnervouspaultuedtosgoingtobloorrow”heasked
adrienneranherhandthroughherhair“idoubtitthisplacehasbeenhereforsixtyyears,andithasntblo”“haveyoueverbeenhereduringanoreasterabigone,ian,liketheoheyreexpecting”“nobutjeanhas,soithere,soybeshesusedtoit”assheansselfevaluatingheryoungerbyafe,herfigureagazinesshehadaslightbuonheose,croaroundhereyes,andherskinhadreachedthatsoftpointinbethandage,beforegravitybegantotakeitstoll“andyousaidshesafriend”
“etinllegeyearsagojeanyrooates,andadearrangentse,sinceshehadanoutoftooattend”“butyoudontlivehere”
“no,iliveinrockyunthaveyoueverbeenthere”“nytisiusedtopassthroughontripstogreenville”athisansshetookasipofffeeandlohecuptoherlap“iknoybusiness,”shesaid,“butcaniaskjustcurious”paulshiftedinhiseone”
“thatsalongodrivetohaveanversation”
“ididnthavechofachoiceheeetinperson”
hisvoiote,andforant,heseedlostinthoughtinthesilence,adrienneuldheartheheflagoutfrontpaulsethisffeeonthetablebet
“doyoudo”hefinallyasked,hisvoiceingagain“besideschingbedandbreakfastsforfriends”“ihepubliclibrary”
“youdo”
“yousoundsurprised”
“iguessiaiexpeethingdifferent”
“like”
“tobehonest,iotsurejustnotthatyoudontlookoldenoughtohealibrarianheyreallintheirsixties”shesled“itsonlyparttiihavethreekids,soidothehing,too”“hohey”
“eighteen,seventeen,andfifteen”
“dotheykeepyoubusy”
“no,notreallyaslongasipbyfiveanddontgotobeduntildnight,itsnottoobad”hechuckledunderhisbreath,andadriennefeltherselfbeginningtorelax“hoyoudoyouhavechildren”“justoneason”foranthiseyesdropped,buthecabacktoheragain“hesadoctorinecuador”“helivesthere”
“forthetibeinghesvolunteeringhisservieraldas”“youstbeproudofhi”
“ia”hepaused“buttohehonest,hesthavegottenthatfroyyexoreherdoingthanne”adriennesled“thatsnicetohear”
““
“thatyoustillappreeanidonthearalotofpeoplesayingthosethingsaftertheysplitupusually,alkabouttheirexes,alltheybringuparethethingsthathebadthingstheotherpersondid”paulpersonalexperience,guessingthatshewas“tellaboutyourkids,adriennedotheyliketodo”adrienookanothersipofherffee,thinkinghosayinghea“kidsoh,,andnoandalovesdra,andshejustightgooutfortotryoutsinplastsuer”paulraisedhiseyebropressive”
“canisayitothersdoing,”shequipped
“e”
shesled“ofurse,thosearejusttheirgoodpartshaditoldyouabouttheirodsessyroo,youdprobablythinki”paulsled“idoubtitidthinkisthatyoueenagers”“inotherethatyourson,thenscientiousdoctor,throughallthis,too,soishouldntlosehope”“iurehedid”
“youdontknohough”
“notreally”hepaused“iuylifeuch”
sheuldtellitissionforhiandshebeforesheuldd,thephonerangandtheybothtuedatthesound“excuse,”shesaid,risingfroerseat,“ihavetogetthat”paulediorandsensibilityadrienne,hee,ybeevenbyherheuldtellthatshehadbeennervousedintentontryingtoiress,kingsuretheysaidtherightthings,shobledon,asiftheyvieoreboringthanahloedtoapplytoadrienneand,hehadtoadt,iteoneduringthepastfeonths,hedalteatedbetealoneorfendingoffquestionsastondedthenaofagoodtherapistandnfidedthatthepersonhadhelpedthepaulhadgroiredofexplainingthatheknehewas
