white horse

May 2025 - Viola Long is 33, Clara Long is 6, Neil Cameron is 50.

Viola never thought her life would end up like this. She thought Benjamin was her Prince Charming - a handsome doctor ready to marry her and whisk her away to a beautiful castle, or at least what passed for a castle in Providence. But now Elizabeth Ng gets the happy ending, and she's left alone, divorced and a single mother.

Still it's not as bad as she had feared. She cooks and cleans, just like she always did. She learns to do the chores that Benjamin used to do, like helping Clara with her homework. She's not as smart or well-educated as Benjamin, but she certainly knows enough for the first grade.

Maybe she should be glad that this all happened so soon. She's only 33, she still has most of her life ahead of her. Maybe she should be excited about this second chance.

She met Neil one afternoon while she was waiting for Clara to get home from school. She didn't think she'd be ready to date so soon after the divorce, but she's always happy to see him.

When he holds her in his arms, she feels safe again.

And before she knows it, before she's consciously ready for another try at love, he's swept her off her feet.

*****

It seems like Viola is moving on just fine! She ended up getting pregnant after this encounter (on accident!) so she'll be getting married to Neil Cameron soon, and their baby is due in February.