Chapter 57
Life is full of disappointment, my father used to say, and then you die.
The death of my third marriage (read into that what you will) was a big disappointment.
There had been real love there at one point, but the end, despite my careful preparations, was messy.
By the time the whole thing was over with, I was a shell of my former self, and this time there were children involved.
They caused me all sorts of problems, cost me thousands in therapy.
It reached a point where it was either cut them loose too, or distract ourselves with a new adventure.
I began to look for somewhere we could all start over.
Somewhere isolated and quiet and separate.
Svalbard, Nova Scotia, Papua New Guinea—I did my homework like always.
Eventually I found it: an undiscovered oasis hidden right in the heart of this fine country, with a fascinating history, nice views, and plenty of parking.
Bratenahl ticked all my boxes (especially the “no one will ever think to look for us here” box), and so off we went.
Anyway, here’s another questionable Hemingway quote for you, Hailey Evans: “Never mistake motion for action.”
Hailey and Mack have been flapping around, going through the motions, wasting my time and money. And yet Dr. Ashman lives to see another day, to grind up another perfectly good molar. It makes me angry, frankly, and the time has come to show these Evanses what action looks like.