Don't Call Me Bethy

"Don't call me Bethy." Bethan bristled at the endearment.

Dave flinched at her implacable tone, regrouped.

"You're right. That was...wrong. I'm sorry. It's just..." He tailed off, hoping that words left unsaid would convince Bethan that he held some feeling for her still, that he was struggling to keep his emotions in check. Just the right level of vulnerability. He shrugged.

"It's good to see you," he added.

Bethan looked at her ex-husband, his hopeful look and, despite her trepidatory unease at meeting him, she could feel her heart softening. Her brain, however, drifted to his reluctance to answer her calls and Katie's discovery of the camera, timely reminders of reasons to resist his charm offensive.

"Yes...well," she said and left it there.

There was a pause and a shifting of feet by them both and then, Bethan asked:

"So, what's this all about?" Bethan threw out her hand, palm up and Dave remembered that she always was direct.

"Shall we walk?' Dave mimicked the same gesture but with more courtly swagger towards the path, leading into the woods.

"You want to walk?" Bethan was unsure. She wouldn't show weakness but she wouldn't voluntarily lead herself into danger.

"Well, I thought we could walk and talk. It is a beautiful day to walk in the woods." He smiled to himself, ready to deliver his next line. "You remember how much Laney liked leaves, especially little red ones?"

Bethan was not prepared for the memory to rush in, wincing a little, Dave noticing the tremor created by the emotional arrow he'd just slung. He was also struck by an image of his lost daughter stomping through leaves, picking up "special" ones with curiosity. He suddenly felt a pang of longing for his lost little girl.

Bethan saw it, his expression change and wondered was it the same image of Laney in her mind's eye? The jolt of love threatened her equilibrium. Was this ever going to end?

She was struck then by the gap that would be left if Laney's disappearance was ever resolved. She hoped relief would fill the void.

A little red leaf cascaded down where they were standing.

"Okay," she decided. "Let's walk."

***

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