Welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Each morning I spend fifteen minutes writing on a singular story line. Each morning starts with the last line of the previous day. The goal is to get a (very) rough draft out of the simple story idea and to avoid letting the story idea languish in limbo forever, actually writing it out. This is the third year I have done this writing experiment and each year I learn just a little bit about myself and the way I write as well as creating a framework for the story. But without further ado…
Day 164: As they drove away from the airport, conversation was kept light and mostly about the trip.
As they drove away from the airport, conversation was kept light and mostly about the trip. Gwen realized that her father didn’t really know Michael and might not want to discuss personal business with him in the car. They pulled up in front of Michael’s house.
“Thanks for the ride,” he said to her father. He looked to Gwen. “So, I’ll come by on Thursday to see how the packing’s going and to check the timeline?”
“Sounds good,” Gwen said.
“Cool.” He said. “See you then.” Michael took his carry-on bag and slid out of the car, walking up to his front door. It opened before he could get there, and his mother stepped out giving him a large hug. She then waved to the car and took him inside.
The car pulled away from the curb and headed the few blocks over towards their house.
“So,” Henry began. “I’m sure your grandmother told you that Sharron and I are divorced. Well divorcing, it is a process really.”
“I heard. Are you okay with that?”
Henry lifted an eyebrow. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“It’s your life,” Gwen said. “And if the two of you weren’t happy you shouldn’t stay together.”
“A fair assessment,” Henry said. “We weren’t happy, and I am happier now that it has ended.”
“Then that is what matters. Is Sharron happier?”
“As she left me for someone else, I would assume so,” Henry said. He sighed. It is complicated.”
To Gwen it didn’t seem very complicated, but she kept that to herself. “Then it is good you split,” she said instead.
“She left a phone number if you wanted to call.”
“Really?” Gwen said. She didn’t have a lot of talking to do with Sharron when they were both living in the same house. Gwen couldn’t see that changing now that Sharron was divorcing her dad. Again, that seemed like something she shouldn’t really say.
“So did you find a new place already?” Gwen asked. “Now that you are selling the house?”
“I did. It is an apartment. Three bedrooms, one is yours of course, so you will always have a room to stay,” he said. “I bought it as an investment property a while back and the renter got a job offer in another state about the same time Sharron and I split. I figured since I already owned it and couldn’t see the point in staying in the house on my own, I would relocate. It doesn’t bother you?”
“Not really,” Gwen said. “As long as I can stay with you when I visit, I’m fine. I don’t know when I will be planning to come back to Westport except for holidays anyway.”
Henry looked relieved. “Good. That’s good. I was worried you would be upset, childhood home and all that.”
“Oh, no, I see the reasoning. I mean it makes sense to move.”
“Right, so, are you going to be seeing any of your friends while you are home?” He asked.
Ten til Midnight 