Chapter 3 – The Good Wife

Time in Willow Creek: 2 weeks, 2 days

Harriett was failing at getting Harold a new hobby. Despite how difficult he made her life, she still loved him and didn’t want to see him waste away with the passing of time. Retirement was supposed to be fun and exciting. It was the perfect opportunity to reinvent himself as she had done many years before. All she needed was one spark. If she could find one thing he didn’t grunt at, she would be golden.

On the third day, she took him to the library. He used to love reading to their children, so maybe getting him around books would rejuvenate that joy. She told him to go inside and sit while she found some nice books for him. After grabbing a few, she went to find him but he wasn’t around.

“Where could that fool run off to?”

She made another lap around the main floor before deciding to trek upstairs although she didn’t expect his lazy bones would be bothered with the effort. But, to her surprise, he was up there snoozing in a chair.

“Harold,” she whispered as loud as she could. “You can’t stay awake for five minutes?”

“Huh, what?”

She stood there shaking her head at him. “You’re impossible! Let’s just go.”

“That’s the best plan you had all day.”

As they walked down the stairs, Harriett saw someone in her peripheral vision. It was the girl from the museum.

“I wonder why she’s sitting up here all by herself.”

“To get away from loudmouths like you who wake folks up from naps.”

“Hush up, Harold! You’re just like a whiny baby!”

The next night, she tried something else. One of her friends had started a band and was performing that night at The Fountain. So, in Harriett-like fashion, she dragged Harold with her. He actually had a good time, but for the wrong reasons.

“Can you see Janice pretty good, Harold?”

“No, but I have a real nice view from here. Yes indeed!”

“I know what you’re looking at, you dirty old coot!”

Despite Harold’s bad behavior, Harriett enjoyed her evening listening to her friend play. As they were leaving, she made it known, again, that she didn’t approve.

“You’re just jealous,” he said. “Go on and walk in front of me. I’ll watch you leave.”

“Contemptible!”