Freddie would pick her up that day. He’d drive straight from the airport, smile his greetings, wheel her out the door, and off they would go to Winnipeg. Be cold there. Sure would. But Mrs. Millar was used to that. Grew up in Ontario, knew what winter meant. She’d better hurry. Not one of those … Continue reading →

Although she’d stuffed it to the back of the cupboard, every so often a small patch of the brown dress peaked out. But, unlike her regular well-worn clothes, the brown dress never enjoyed the light of day. Ten years earlier she had tried the dress on in order to show her mother that her gift … Continue reading →

As the funeral hymns droned on, Stella fretted that the stores would close before she could buy a much-needed alarm clock. With the old curmudgeon now a jar of dust she needed something to wake her on dark mornings. The only good thing about the old guy—who was in no way like the man the … Continue reading →

I need time to consider my options and prepare my defense. If I renege on my promise to not run in the next election, my usually mild mannered husband will be angry, but circumstances have changed since my blithe commitment to him. And David has some responsibility. Had he not pointed out the newspaper report … Continue reading →

Before her husband’s outburst, Jessica had considered confessing about the missed call. She prided herself on her honesty whatever the damage. The only subject she scuttled around—a perilous country of land mines—was Will’s father, the cause of the outburst. If Will knew what she’d done, he’d neither understand nor forgive her. As it was, he … Continue reading →

The moment her head broke the surface of the blissful water of consciousness, Mandy knew there would be no bullfights today. Her aching bones are crushed under her faded quilt and her head sizzles like a hot air balloon impaled in a blazing Spanish sky. “Get up, Mandy. I’m not phoning in again,” her husband, … Continue reading →

When I pull back the grimy motel curtain for the 100th time, the view, unlike my life, holds no surprises.  There, through the glass, in the dark, my Mini, dent and all, awkwardly straddles the white line of the parking space: a familiar reminder of the normality of yesterday.  Across the freeway, the Ballow Burger’s … Continue reading →

All of the adults in the family are embarrassed – except for Buffy, who is bemused. But Buffy was born bemused. And he, in turn, bemuses me as I watch him sail – single and centered – through life. My eldest daughter Melissa – who over the years has taken on the role of “keeper … Continue reading →