Vincent picked up the phone in his office and punched in the number for Cathy Riggs. He heard a breathless voice answer, “Hello? Let me catch my breath, just a sec.”

“Cathy, this is Vincent O’Donoghue. Should I call back at a better time?”

He could hear the laughter in her voice as she said, “It’s a fine time to talk if you can give me a minute or two to catch my breath. I just got back inside after chasing the cat around the back yard. He slipped past me and ran out the door. I caught him just as he was trying to climb a tree. When he made it up the tree in the past, it was an hours-long ordeal.”

“Oh, take your time,” said Vincent. “I can wait.”

“He’s all safe and sound now.” She took a deep breath and asked, “How are you, Vincent? I guess I haven’t gotten to speak directly with you recently. I’ve seen Mandy several times, but I only get to see you in passing. Are you doing okay? Is the business doing okay? Mandy says you might be moving soon. How is that process going?”

“Those are three questions that could each lead to long conversations. Let me figure out where I should start.”

Cathy said, “Hey, I think everything here is under control now. The cat is already sacked out on the couch. How about meeting me somewhere for a cup of coffee. Would that be easier than talking on the phone?”

Vincent considered the invitation for a moment and said, “Sure, that sounds like a good idea. I need to make a stop by the Cherry Avenue store at some point this afternoon. There is a coffee shop across the street. Could I meet you there?”

“Fifteen minutes?” asked Cathy.

“I’ll see you there.”

Vincent stacked up the non-emergency work on his desk. It would still be there tomorrow. He pulled his office door closed and stopped at Vicki’s desk. She was staring at a spreadsheet on her computer. Vincent said, “Vicki, I’m heading out for the afternoon, but this isn’t for a meeting about the house. I have to stop by the Cherry Avenue store before I pick up Mandy from school. Give them a quick call and let them know I’ll be there within the hour.”

Vicki looked up and pulled her reading glasses down her nose. “You have a good rest of your afternoon, Mr. O’Donoghue. It’s been pretty quiet around here today. Will I see you in the morning?”

Vincent nodded, “Yes, I’ll be here like normal.”

---

Cathy was chatting with the barista when Vincent walked through the door of the coffee shop. She was an attractive woman in her early 50s, and Vincent instantly thought of Dana when their eyes met. Vincent remembered Dana saying that Cathy endured a nasty divorce when she was in her mid-40s, and she spoke adamantly about not looking for a new partner. She had two adult children, two dogs, and a cat.

The barista asked, “Is this the man you were planning to meet?” Vincent believed that he knew everyone that worked at the coffee shop. With its location across from one of his stores, he visited more times a month than he wanted to count.

Cathy turned and exclaimed, “Vincent! It’s so good to see you.” She pulled the strap of a purse up her shoulder and then reached her arms out for a hug.

Vincent hugged her back tight and noticed the differences in grip and body shape between hugging a woman and hugging Andrew. He spoke in a quiet tone when he asked, “Could we go to the corner over there to talk?”

A worried look spread across Cathy’s face as she said, “Of course. I hope Mandy is okay. Do you want to order something first?”

Vincent said, “Oh, right, yes I do, and Mandy is doing well. Please don’t be worried about her.”

Vincent ordered a simple, basic cup of coffee. He enjoyed the warmth that seeped into his hand from the steaming liquid. Cathy was staring toward the windows of the coffee shop when Vincent returned. He seated himself and said, “Nothing is wrong, but I have something I need to discuss. I don’t know who else I can speak with about it, so I hope it’s okay for us to talk.”

Cathy’s eyes searched Vincent’s face as she said, “I’ll do my best. I don’t always know how good I am at giving advice, but I can give an honest opinion.”

Vincent smiled wistfully and said, “Dana thought you were outstanding.”

Cathy nodded and said, “I still miss her. She was a wonderful person.”

Echoing the nod, Vincent said, “I miss her, too. I still don’t think a day goes by that she doesn’t enter my thoughts, but Mandy and I are both moving forward, too.”

“I can see that in Mandy,” said Cathy. “She is turning into a beautiful, intelligent young woman. She is looking forward to the move. Did she tell you that?”

Vincent nodded. “Yes, she did. She was worried it wouldn’t be okay that she wants to move. I think she fears that she’s leaving Dana behind at the old house.”

“You set her straight on that?” asked Cathy. “We had a short, tearful conversation about it. I made Mandy promise to talk to you. I’m happy to hear that she did.”

“I guess that is a good enough segue into what I really wanted to ask you.”

“I’m all ears, Vincent.” She smiled warmly and reached her hands across the table.

Vincent took the small hands in his own while he began to speak. He said, “I’ve found someone new.”

Cathy raised her eyebrows, and then she smiled. “It has been…what? A year and a half?”

“More than eighteen months, yes.”

“Well, I think that sounds great, Vincent. Is it okay if I ask who is the lucky woman?”

Vincent felt something akin to icy fingers race up his spine. He knew that Cathy would assume that it was a woman. Anyone knowing him would. There was no outward indication in his entire relationship with Dana that he had an attraction to men. It was all kept inside far from public view. Vincent tried to answer. First, he said, “Well, it’s not really…” Then he stopped. He attempted to start again. “I guess I should say…”

Cathy tilted her head to the right and asked, “Is there something wrong? Should we back up? Maybe I asked too nosy of a question. I’m guilty of that sometimes.”

Vincent shook his head, but he was still having difficulty coming up with the words. He sipped at the coffee hoping that the warm liquid might loosen his tongue. Finally, he managed to say it quickly and directly. He said, “It’s not a woman. His name is Andrew.”

Her mouth dropped open for a moment and then she squeezed Vincent’s right hand tighter. She pulled her left hand back. He let it go, and she reached up to her face to wipe away a tear. He blinked and tried to figure out whether she was upset or there was some other kind of emotion.

Cathy spoke slowly and softly asking, “Did Dana tell you about my husband?”

He said, “No, she only told me that you had a nasty divorce.”

Cathy sighed deeply and said, “I bet she didn’t tell you much about our long conversations at all.”

“She just said you were good friends, and she loved you as a friend. I knew that much. Mandy thinks the world of you, too.” Vincent felt like he had stepped into a strange world. He sensed there was something that existed which passed without his notice for a long time.

Cathy said, “My husband cheated on me with another man.”

Vincent felt his throat constrict, but he managed to say, “I’m so sorry. That’s horrible.” Then he blurted out, “I never cheated on Dana. Please don’t be thinking that. This is the first time I’ve ever even considered doing anything with a man.”

She smiled warmly again saying, “I know. At least that’s what I would have guessed.” Cathy continued, “Vincent, I’m going to tell you something about the conversations with Dana. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me telling you. In fact, if she were here, she might tell you herself.”

Vincent glanced furtively around the coffee shop. He was relieved to see that the nearest customers were at least two tables away. He whispered, “I hope you won’t make me cry.”

Cathy squeezed his hand again and said, “She loved you so much. I think when she realized that she was losing the fight, and that she wasn’t going to make it, she began to think about you, Mandy and the world in a much larger, more expansive way. Vincent, it was almost like her heart kept growing every day as she grew sicker. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking.”

Hanging his head, Vincent said, “It tore me apart. I understand what you’re saying.”

She looked up again and said, “Vincent, she knew.”

“Knew what?” He could feel the warmth of confusion rising in his cheeks. “What do you mean she knew?”

“She knew about your attraction to men. She never doubted your love for her, but one night she simply said to me, ‘I hope he finds a good man.’”

Struck speechless, Vincent stared back into Cathy’s eyes. He didn’t doubt the truth in her statement, but Dana never gave him any indication that she knew. They were both politically supportive of efforts to promote gay rights. They didn’t shrink from watching movies or TV shows together that included sympathetic depictions of gay people, but Vincent thought that he steered clear of giving away any of his sexual attraction to men.

Cathy said, “She didn’t condemn you for it. It was a genuine wish that she shared. She wanted you to find a new partner. She often talked about how young you are and how much of your life you have ahead. She just thought you would be happier looking for a man than looking for another woman.”

“I…I just don’t know how she knew,” whispered Vincent.

“I never asked that question,” said Cathy. “She didn’t share how she knew either. I assumed she knew you well. She did tell me she was confident you would never go behind her back and be intimate with someone else, male or female.”

Vincent nodded. “She was right about that.”

“Was there more that you wanted to share?” asked Cathy. “Or was there something you wanted to ask?”

Vincent said, “Mandy doesn’t know anything. In fact, no one close to me knows anything about it except you. I’m not sure how to begin talking about this with Mandy, but I need to start sooner rather than later.”

“Has she ever met Andrew?” asked Cathy.

“Yes, she has. Andrew is working on our new house.”

“What’s her reaction to him?”

Vincent said, “So far she seems to like him. He is wanting to pull her into the project and listen to her input and individual decorating items in the house.”

Cathy smiled and said, “I think that’s an outstanding idea. Mandy should like that.”

“But how do I tell her that my relationship with Andrew is more than just professional?”

Squeezing Vincent’s hand, Cathy said, “I don’t think you need to rush any of it. Encourage Andrew and Mandy to spend the time together. Let their relationship develop. My guess is that she will figure it out on her own, and then it will be the right time to talk about it.”

“And we will have your support?” asked Vincent.

Cathy said, “I told Dana while she was still with us that I would do my best to help and keep a watch over both you and Mandy. I’m always here for you, Vincent. I’m not going anywhere. Call me anytime.”

Vincent looked into Cathy’s eyes, and he was certain that he saw the spirit of Dana there. She was still present and looking after her husband and daughter through Cathy’s efforts.