It was time for Edna to come to some sort of decision. She realized that Tim had begun to suspect that she bore more than a neighborly interest in Dennis. And Dennis was becoming more insistent about their meetings. He wanted her more frequently, insisted on their being together for longer periods of time. What began as a romantic interlude was turning into a major life change with the necessity for a major life choice. Should she choose Tim or Dennis?

She loved Tim. His kindness, his wisdom, his reliability were the rocks upon which she had built her life. On the other hand, Dennis was unpredictable, self-absorbed and carefree. Therein lay his charm.

Considering the practicalities, Edna thought, "Well, of course, there would have to be a divorce." Tim would never condone adultery. The French term "menage a trois," wasn't in Tim's vocabulary. To remain Mrs. Timothy Bridges she would have to forsake "all others," as she had promised to do in the wedding ceremony six years earlier. To have Dennis, she would need to divorce Tim.

A divorce. How would she manage that? Names in the papers, friends phoning their support or criticism. Or worse, they would just ignore her while they gossiped behind her back. No. She would go out of town, get a quickie divorce before the gossip could begin. Where would she go? Well, Nevada -- Reno, she supposed. Isn't that the Divorce Mill, as Las Vegas is the Wedding Mill?

Vegas. Well, Dennis would want to go there. He would like Las Vegas all right. And he wouldn't like Reno. "Reno," Dennis would say, "is full of losers, and I don't like losers." She could just hear him say something like that. And she could just hear Tim say something like, "Las Vegas is full of losers, too, you know," letting it sink in and then adding, "For every winner there's a loser."

If she went to Reno she would be all alone. Dennis wouldn't come, and Tim wouldn't be there. She visualized the picture of herself, striking out on her own, getting a divorce, alone in Reno. She sighed, "I'd just be another

_ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _.

(4 letters plus 5 letters)

 Copyright 1997 J.J. Schnebel
All rights reserved

Stumped?  Here's the Answer!

Go on to Chapter Five

Go back to Welcome to Once Upon a Palindrome