Josie sipped her coffee. “I’ve been thinking about regret a lot lately. I want to make things right with my mom. I don’t want the two of us regretting that we didn’t try harder to patch things up between us. But what happens if she makes this move and it’s a disaster? I’ll still have regret and I’ll be miserable along with it. You know what I mean?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re turning philosophical.”
“I’m just wondering, how do you decide? Do you chase down a dream, or do you do what makes your wife happy? Do you take a chance on something new, or do what’s safe and comfortable? Life just seems like a giant game of chance.”
Otto smiled. “Don’t look so worried. That’s the beauty of it too. You take your best guess and you make the most of it.”
“What about you? Do you have regrets?” she asked.
“Well, sure. If you’ve lived, you’re bound to have some.” He took a moment to respond. “I suppose my biggest regret is losing touch with my family in Poland. But our choices were made with good intent. I miss my family, but in the end, I know we did what was best for us.” He smiled then and shrugged. “So I’ll go home tonight, and Delores and I will look at the pros and cons. Then we’ll make a decision together.”
They both stood and locked up the office for the night, turning off the coffeepot, computers, and lights. As they walked down the stairs together she said, “After forty years of marriage, I have no doubt, you and Delores will work it all out.”
*
Josie called Nick on her way home and asked if he could make it to her house for a late dinner and whatever else that might lead to.
“I’m still in Mexico. I have a meeting with a Federales officer tonight at seven. If I make it to your place, it’ll be late.”
Disappointed, Josie sighed. She needed Nick’s company.
“What if we meet halfway?” she asked. “I could meet you at your cabin. I’m off tomorrow, so we could sleep in and make a fire in the morning. After a big breakfast, we can share a long walk along the river.”
He laughed. “I definitely want to share. Bring Chester with you too. And can you bring a few groceries? My cabinets are pretty empty.”
“I’ll make you the best breakfast you ever had.”
“No canned fruit cocktail?”
“Maybe canned biscuits, but I can pull off fried eggs and bacon.”
“You’re the best. I’ll love you forever. Did you find your key yet?”
“What key?”
“I left you a key to the cabin on your hook in the pantry, just in case you need a getaway.”
“You sure you want to open up your hideaway? You want to invite a woman into your space?” She paused. “No regrets later?”
“Not a chance.”
Josie hung up with Nick and pulled into her driveway. She walked behind the house to catch the final rays of sun shining bright as lightning across the ragged ridge top of the Chinati Mountains. She pulled her coat around her tighter and sat down on the porch step to watch Chester gallop down the driveway from Dell’s house to hers—pure joy on the dog’s face. He bounded onto the steps and leaped into her, knocking her backwards, licking her face and whining with happiness. She laughed and hugged the dog, wondering why people couldn’t be so uncomplicated, and she vowed to take life one day at a time with a new motto—no regrets.