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a way of moving forward, even if she did not want it to. She knew she couldn’t go on like this forever. There was a stream of people waiting to visit and offer condolences. Clint had been raised in Cove Bay since he was a boy and the entire community wanted to come and bring food and offers of help. Some, of course, wanted to come out of curiosity, to see Clint’s new home and wife. They might have seen Cindy in passing, but she had not been a regular here in town. There were rumors all around town that Clint’s family wasn’t happy with Cindy. No one knew exactly why.
    Cindy had to screen the visitors carefully. Of course Clint’s old friends had to be welcomed. She also had to receive visits from people at the company he’d worked for - DGB Oil. Ann told her that the company had been calling daily, asking after Cindy, especially Henry Greerson, Clint’s boss. Clint had been a rising star in the company. Clint was smart, assertive, outspoken and did a thorough job with everything. Working as he did, researching the effects of offshore drilling on the environment, he was an important voice. And speaking at many conferences, meetings and lunches, he was in the public eye. He’d even recently been sent to Washington to speak both to members of congress and significant lobbies in the oil industry.
    Clint had loved what he did and all that went with it. It was as if he were on a personal crusade to create a crucial balance - care for the wildlife and environment and find a way for much needed drilling to be done safely and wisely. Clint wasn’t someone who could be easily replaced. Not by anyone .
    In preparation for receiving visitors, Cindy went to her closet and looked over her clothing. She usually dressed simply, in slacks, jeans, short skirts and shirts. There wasn’t much in her closet to cover the days of visitors she now had to receive. She wanted to make a good impression. This was Clint’s memory she was taking care of. They would remember him, partially, through the wife he had chosen, and she was determined to play the role well.
    “Hurry up and get dressed. It’s almost time,” Ann called from the other room.
    Cindy went into the bedroom and slipped into a simple, dark-green, linen dress in which she always felt at ease. It had a little scoop neck, medium sleeves, a lovely bodice and fell below her knees gracefully. Then she slipped into gray and green open sandals, went into the bathroom and brushed her long, auburn, tousled hair. Without a doubt, her hair was the most striking part of her, she thought, combined with the light freckles on her forehead. Clint always loved it when she brushed her hair. He would stand in the doorway and watch her for hours.
    “You have no idea how beautiful you are,” he’d always say. “All the guys are crazy jealous of me. They don’t know how I landed someone like you.” Then he’d come over and kiss her on the neck. As the months went by, she’d begun to believe him.
    Now she didn’t know who she was anymore.
    Cindy brushed her hair for a long time, not really looking in the mirror much. It was hard to see herself standing there, getting dressed, without Clint nearby. What was the point of it?
    The doorbell rang.
    Oh no , she thought, they’re here .
    At least the family wouldn’t be coming today. That was something to be grateful for.
    She stayed in the bathroom a moment longer, and leaned against the door, listening to Ann let the visitors in. The voices rose and fell, then there was quiet. She couldn’t hide here forever.
    She straightened her shoulders and walked out into the living room, as if it were a normal visit, as if nothing horrifying had happened to turn all their lives upside down. Clint always wanted me to be brave , she thought, as she sailed in. No one smiled as she entered.
    Clint’s friends had arrived, as well as some acquaintances of Cindy’s from work.
    “I can’t even imagine what you must be going through,” Tina, a friend of