Four

Going to the arts festival with Joni and Claire had been good. As Andrea ladled the batter onto the hot griddle, she remembered how alive her senses had been. She needed to do more things like that. Andrea was ambivalent about her attraction to Torry Bridges. It seemed indecent to be entertaining such thoughts about a man just seven months after her husband's death. But, it felt so good; this was the first morning since Jack's death that she wanted to do something.

Andrea lifted the edge of one of the pancakes to check its color, then turned each cake over with a deft flick of her wrist.

She also felt foolish, for in the light of a new day, the experience seemed diminished. Andrea was attracted to an artist; he'd noticed her and flirted. So what? He had probably just wanted to sell a pot. She couldn't expect to hear from him again, unless he sent a notice of another art show. It didn't matter; Andrea had discovered that she was still interested in living, that passion was possible. She vowed she would never again settle for an illusion. Whether Jack had been unfaithful or not, their union had not been genuine. From now on it would be the real thing or nothing. Either way, she determined to achieve some life apart from the domestic chores that had defined her days. Joni had been right; she could see that now.