Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT DIANE GOT LOST
Winter returned.
One year after the forest.
Diane drove to the lake property after dark.
Snow began unexpectedly.
Her phone battery died.
The car slid into a ditch on a rural road.
Not dangerous.
No injury.
But she could not get out alone.
Her right knee had worsened.
She sat in the cold car for forty minutes.
Then panic came.
She later told no one at first.
A passing driver found her.
Called roadside assistance.
Diane returned home safe.
Two days later, she called Kalin.
“I need to tell you something.”
Kalin listened.
Diane described the road.
The dark.
The dead phone.
The cold.
The inability to walk far.
Kalin said nothing.
Diane began crying.
“I thought of you.”
Kalin’s jaw tightened.
“You should.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then Diane said:
“I finally understood.”
Kalin’s anger rose.
“No.”
Diane stopped.
“You understood fear for forty minutes. I lived with what you did for a year.”
“I know.”
“Don’t turn your inconvenience into my lesson.”
Diane cried harder.
Kalin continued:
“If it helps you change, fine. But it doesn’t make us equal.”
“No.”
Good.
Diane did not argue.
Then she said:
“I am sorry.”
Kalin had heard apologies before.
This one was smaller.
No explanation.
No Martin.
No Paul.
No sacrifice.
Just:
“I left you where you couldn’t walk and took your phone because I wanted you to be afraid. I’m sorry.”
Kalin closed her eyes.
That was the apology.
Specific.
Owned.
She replied:
“I believe you.”
Not forgiveness.
Recognition.
Diane understood.
They began speaking once a month.
Then twice.
Always scheduled.
Diane hated scheduling family.
Then adapted.
Kalin visited the lake property in spring.
For the first time.
It was beautiful.
Diane had lied about therapeutic use.
Yet ironically, the flat deck and lake path were easier on Kalin’s ankle than most places.
Diane said:
“You can come whenever.”
Kalin smiled faintly.
“No.”
Diane looked hurt.
Kalin continued:
“I’ll come when invited and when I want.”
Boundary.
Diane nodded.
They sat by the water.
Then Diane asked:
“Do you ever wish Samuel hadn’t found you?”
Kalin stared.
“What kind of question is that?”
“I mean…”
Diane struggled.
“If you had been found by strangers, maybe none of the trust investigation happened.”
Kalin understood.
“You wish the secrets stayed hidden?”
Diane looked at the lake.
“Some days.”
“Do you regret getting caught or what you did?”
Diane answered honestly.
“Both.”
Kalin almost laughed.
“Fair.”
Then:
“What about you?”
“What?”
“Do you regret taking everything apart?”
Kalin thought.
The house gone.
Family reputation damaged.
Martin’s lies exposed.
Diane convicted.
Paul imprisoned.
“Yes.”
Diane looked surprised.
Kalin continued:
May you like
“And I would do it again.”
Both could be true.
