After leaving town hall, I went on up to my farm and tended to my crops there, finding some small solace in the physical exertion. Afterwards, I returned to the town hall and completed the paperwork for our separation, taking two sets of copies—one for my records and one to deliver to Cam. Then I stopped by Dr. Ayame's clinic and explained to her that after the morning's fiasco, I was planning to divorce Cam, and that I'd picked her to meet our counseling requirement. She was distressed by the news, though not entirely surprised after what she'd seen and heard. She gave me a list of available times for counseling sessions, and I told her I'd find out what times worked for Cam and make an appointment.

I returned to Bluebell, heading home first to belatedly tend to my livestock before going into town. I felt a little fearful at seeing Cam after the way he'd blown up at me that morning, but it had to be done. I walked up the stairs to the plaza and saw that his flower stall was still open, in spite of everything. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the counter. He looked up with a smile as I approached, then scowled and turned away when he saw me approaching. I felt my stomach knot up, but I steeled myself for the upcoming interview.

Stepping in front of him at the counter, I looked at him, clearing my throat to get his attention. Without a word, I held out the paperwork showing that we were now officially, if only temporarily, separated. He took them and glanced at them, then at me, then back at the papers, his scowl deepening as he read them over. Throwing the stack of papers down and crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at me. "So. That's it, then, is it? Going back to Mikhail, I suppose?"

Even though I'd been half expecting a reaction like that, it still felt as though he'd just punched me in the stomach, and I gasped a little from the shock. "I can't go back to where I've never been," I said, sharply, lifting my chin and holding my head high. "Besides, since it seems pretty clear to me that you don't want me or our child, what possible difference could it make to you where I go or what I do?"

He just stared at me for a moment, then he turned his back to me. "None at all," he said flatly.

"Then here's a list of times that Dr. Ayame can meet with us to satisfy the requirements for divorce. When can you come?"

"What requirements?" he asked, turning to look at the paper I held out to him.

"Ina says that the requirements for divorce in either of the two towns is to complete a trial separation of at least two weeks, and complete a minimum of four one-hour counseling sessions with either Ina, Rutger, or Dr. Ayame. It doesn't matter which, but they all need to be with the same counselor. After we've done those two things, we both have to complete and sign the paperwork to have our marriage dissolved. Then you'll be rid of me."

A strange light came in his eyes as he stared at the paper in his hand. "Counseling sessions, huh?" He dropped the paper on top of the pile of other papers and turned away. "I'm too busy to think about it right now. I'll let you know."

I sighed—it seemed he wasn't going to make this easy, though I didn't understand why. I turned to leave, then turned back again. "By the way, are you coming to get your things after you close up, or should I bring them here?"

He shrugged, saying only, "Whatever, I don't care. Do what you want—that's what you'll end up doing anyway, isn't it?"

I flushed with anger, then turned on my heel and stormed off without another word. I returned to my farm and gathered up all his stuff, dumping it all into my cart. Then I tossed Cowboy's tack on top of the pile, harnessed Nimbus to the cart, and grabbed Cowboy by his halter. I walked the horses and cart back into town, scraped the contents of the cart onto the plaza in front of Cam's stall as he watched, turning purple with silent rage. Without a word, I led the horses to Grady's, where I left Cowboy in Georgia's care, explaining that she'd need to make boarding arrangements with Cam for the future. Then I returned to the farm and unhooked the cart, parking it next to the house as usual. I tended to my mare, then returned to Konohana, where I sought out Mikhail.

He was practicing his violin when I knocked on his door, and when he saw me standing there, he let me in and set it aside, gesturing me to have a seat. "I'd offer you a drink, as you look as though you need one, but under the circumstances...."

I shook my head. "No, thanks anyway. I'd better not. I just... want some company. I feel very alone right now. I... I don't want our friends to feel like they have to take sides, so I haven't told anyone so far other than you and Ina, and telling Georgia that Cam will have to board his horse there from now on. A-am I bothering you? I didn't mean to interrupt your practicing."

"No, you're no bother. Did you file the paperwork and talk to Cam?"

I sighed. "Yes... and it looks like he's not going to make this any easier for me, either. When I tried to get him to tell me which times worked for him to go to counseling, he brushed it off and said he'd let me know. And he had this... look in his eyes.... I just know he's going to be a pain about it, but I don't understand why. After all the things he said, there's no way he still wants to be married to me, so why not just let me go? Why make it difficult if he doesn't even care anymore?"

"Did he actually say he doesn't care for you? That he does in fact want you out of his life?" he asked leaning back with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Well... no, not exactly. But I still think it was pretty damn clear from the stuff he said. You just don't say things like that to someone you love and care about. And even if he hasn't said it in so many words, he also doesn't deny it."

"Speaking from personal experience, some men can be very possessive about the women in their lives. He could be furious with you, perhaps even hate you, yet still prefer to keep his hold on you than let you go to another man. It's... well, I suppose a combination of territorial behavior and sheer pride." He hesitated, looking like he was thinking hard about something. A few minutes later, he said, hesitantly, "If he should prove obstinate... well, I suppose you should know you have other options open to you."

"What do you mean?" I asked him, uncertain what he meant by 'other' options.

"I mean... the requirements for divorce in these two towns are a trifle... unusual. If you were to go to another town in the area—nearly any large town or city—the requirements would be simpler. You'd only need to be resident in the district for some minimum period of time before filing for divorce—if there are no children. So you'd have to do it before your child is born, or else everything becomes far more complicated."

"What about Port Crescent? Do you know what the requirements there are? Beth would probably let me stay with her, if it came to that."

He smiled slightly and shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm not particularly well-versed in divorce law. I only know that much from various discussions I've overheard or participated in from time to time."

I sighed. "Well, hopefully it won't come to that, anyway. I can't believe what a change there was in him this morning. He was so... so different. Not at all the Cam I fell in love with. I don't know where that Cam has gone to... or perhaps he only ever existed in my mind, and deep down, he's always been like this. I just don't know what to think anymore."

He came over and sat next to me, putting his arm around me. He seemed less awkward than he had earlier, which I found comforting. It was good to know that whatever happened, I had at least one friend. I leaned against his shoulder and sighed again, thinking over all that had happened for the hundredth time that day. He sat quietly stroking my hair, and when I looked up at him, he appeared to be lost in thought. I watched him for a few minutes, then I scooted a little closer to him and closed my eyes, thinking.

"Hey, Mikhail?" I said after a moment.

"Hmm?" he said with a slight start, coming out of his reverie.

"I guess I should have married you, huh?"

He stiffened, his hand frozen against my shoulder. "I... I'm not quite sure how to respond to that, Alice. Obviously I would feel so. But you didn't, and you had your reasons for choosing as you did. What's done is done."

I reached up and caressed his cheek, feeling a sudden wave of regret and longing wash over me. I did have my reasons, and they had made sense at the time, but now....

I pulled him down to me to kiss him, but he pushed me gently away and shook his head. "No, Alice. Even if you've filed for separation from your husband, it's all too soon—too fresh. You're vulnerable right now, whether you realize it or not, and I won't take advantage of you now any more than I would before."

"Then when...." I started, but I wasn't sure how to ask what I wanted to know.

He sighed and looked down at me. "Give it some time. Imagine if in a few days you both calm down and reconcile. If during that time you'd been with me—think of how he'd feel when he learned of it, of the remorse you'd feel. I don't want to be your guilty secret, Alice—now or ever. So let's just wait and see how things go between you and Cam first."

I nodded, then rose. "Then I suppose I'd better get out of your hair and let you get back to practicing." I hesitated for a minute, then said, "I... I wondered if you'd care to come for dinner tomorrow? And maybe we could practice together? If you aren't too busy, that is."

He stood and smiled down at me. "That would be nice. I have to say I've missed our duets." Then he gave me a little kiss on the top of my head before closing the door behind me.

The next several days were very difficult. As I'd feared, Cam seemed determined to make my life as miserable as possible. He steadfastly refused to commit to counseling sessions, always making excuses or saying he was too busy to think about it. When he learned that Mikhail had been spending evenings with me fairly regularly, he used that as an excuse, saying in his snarkiest tone that he'd planned to stop by to discuss times for counseling sessions that night, but he hadn't wanted to interrupt my date. On his days off, he'd stalk me as I ran errands or fished or foraged for wild herbs and mushrooms on the mountain, never saying so much as a word to me, but just shadowing me wherever I went. His constant pursuit was at first just an annoyance, but soon I began to feel thoroughly harassed. It was a huge relief when Saturday came and he returned to work.

Also within a few days, nearly everyone in both villages had learned of our fight and subsequent separation. And while I hadn't wanted our private spat to polarize the residents, I also hadn't been prepared for the nearly universal condemnation that was directed towards Cam. Even Howard and Laney took a very dim view of his actions—or whatever they'd heard of them, because I hadn't said a word to anyone outside of Mikhail and Ina, and I was pretty sure neither of them—nor Dr. Ayame and Hiro, who both had been present—would have gossiped about it. But it seemed that someone had, and that someone seemed inclined to place all the blame squarely on Cam's shoulders, so I was also sure it wasn't Cam spreading rumors. Still, it was a small relief just to have people know and not have to go through the pain of reliving that morning for each and every person, though I really wished they wouldn't take sides in our spat.

Sunday morning, a week after we learned I was pregnant, I tried again to get Cam to agree to even just one counseling session, or if he objected to my choice, to choose another counselor. Whatever it took just to get the ball rolling, so I could move forward and put all this behind me. But as usual, he circumvented my attempts, this time changing the subject abruptly to ask how things were going with Mikhail. Again I brushed him off, pointing out yet again that my private life was no longer any of his business, since he'd rejected me and our child. Since he didn't want us in his life, I reminded him, it was none of his concern with whom I—and eventually our child—spent time with. For some reason, that seemed to affect him differently than on previous occasions, and his eyes narrowed as he replied, "Fine. Do whatever you want." He turned his back to me, and I knew that any further attempts to get him to cooperate would be a waste of time.

This time, though, I felt as though I'd taken all I could from him, so I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around to face me. "Listen, if you don't get your act together and start going to those counseling sessions with me very, very soon, I'm going to go elsewhere to file for divorce—someplace where I won't need your consent. Face facts, Cam—it's going to happen, one way or another. I don't get why you're being so difficult when you clearly despise me and want me out of your life, but just get it over with so we can both move on, already! I'll give you until Tuesday to come up with some times, and not a day later." Then I turned and stormed off angrily.

That evening, I told Mikhail about it, and said, "If he still won't cooperate by Tuesday, I'm going to find someone to take over my farms while I go stay in Port Crescent for however long is necessary to be able to file for divorce there. If Beth can't take me in, I'll stay in that same guest house, if Mrs. Simmons has a room available. Or I'll find another place. Whatever it takes. I can't stand it any more."

He nodded his head and put his arm around my shoulders. "Yes, he's being childish and petty, I'm afraid. Still, he may come around at last when he sees you're determined."

"I hope so," I sighed, picking up my violin. Music had become my one reprieve from the nearly intolerable strain that each day seemed to bring. Most evenings, Mikhail came over for dinner, then afterwards we practiced together for a few hours before he returned to Konohana. This time, he gave me a kiss when he said good night. I looked surprised, and he smiled. "It looks like things really aren't getting any between the two of you. So... I allowed myself a tiny, cautious glimmer of hope."

The next afternoon I strolled into town, feeling at ease for once as it was Cam's day to visit his parents' graves—he'd be out of town until very late, so I didn't have to worry about running into him or being followed by him. As I stood perusing the message board, Laney came out of the café. Seeing me, she called out an enthusiastic greeting and hurried over.

"Hey, I just wanted to say how glad I am that you two have finally made up!"

I stared at her, utterly baffled.

"Although... I mean, well... not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe in the future you could go back to your farm? I mean, it is your home. And, well... you were rather loud last night," she said, blushing.

"What on earth are you talking about?" I finally managed to say.

"Oh, come on! Daddy and I could hear you two going at it well into the wee small hours of the morning. I had no idea Cam had so much... stamina! I was amazed he was able to get out of bed as early as he did this morning!" she giggled.

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Laney... I was at home in my bed, alone, all night last night." We stared at each other in dismay as the implication dawned on us.