Scott stood in the living room , staring out the front windows at the rain coming down in sheets and thinking how quiet it was in the house . The kids were away at college , Sally was curled up on the sofa quietly reading and the only sound was the rain as it pounded against the roof . The waterlogged leaves on the trees , some turning yellow and orange , hung limply from the limbs . He took a sip of coffee and said , " I don 't think I 've ever seen so much rain come down at one time . " " Yeah , I know . But this is crazy . Three offshore hurricanes in a row . A week of rain . We 're never going to dry out . " He shook his head , just grateful that their basement was still dry . Suddenly through the sheets of water , he saw something in the street . He wasn 't sure , but it looked like someone riding a bicycle . " Oh my God , that old guy from up the street somewhere is riding his bike in this . What is he , crazy ? " Sally put down the book she had been reading , unfolded her legs , and walked over to stand next to Scott . She looked out the window and said , " Yeah , I saw him go down the road a little earlier , when there was a lull in the storm . He must have been heading to Grocery Mart or maybe the pharmacy . " " I know he goes down the road every day . Rain or shine . But this is crazy ; it 's almost as bad as a hurricane . Doesn 't he know enough to stay home where it 's dry ? " Scott watched as the old man slowly pedaled his bike up the slight incline , a bulging plastic grocery bag dangling from the fingers gripping the handlebars . A car drove by the old man , going much too fast , and barely swerved around him . A huge wave of water flew up from the tires and engulfed the old man . The car drove on and the old man wobbled unsteadily on the bike . In horror Scott and Sally watched as the bike fell , in what seemed to be slow motion , into the middle of the road , taking the old man with it . He landed in the middle of the traffic lane and didn 't move , not right away . Scott handed his coffee cup to Sally , walked quickly to the door and grabbed the rain slicker that was drying on a hook nearby . " Somebody 's going to run him over , " he said . " I 'll see if I can give him a hand . " He didn 't bother with the hood and the rain ran down his neck onto his shirt collar ; he was drenched before he was halfway down the driveway , running at top speed , praying he would reach the old man before another car came up the street . The man was just beginning to get up , but he was tangled in his bicycle , his long , dark coat wrapped around his legs like a cocoon . Scott reached him and stood between him and the traffic lane , his yellow slicker more visible to any passing vehicles than the old man 's dark coat . Grabbing the man 's arms and helping him to stand , Scott asked , " Sir , are you all right ? Sir ? Are you injured ? " Not getting an answer , he repeated the questions a few times as the man stood there , unresponsive but cooperative , not resisting as Scott lifted first one foot and then the other away from the bicycle . Leading the man over to the stone wall Scott said again , " Are you hurt ? " Seeming to revive a little , the man answered , " Yeah , um , I think … yeah , I 'm all right . " " Okay . You had me worried , " Scott replied . " You wait right here , sir . I 'll get my truck and drive you home . " " Fine then , I 'll take you . My truck 's right there , " he said pointing up the driveway . " Wait . I 'll be right back . " Scott trotted up the driveway , and climbed in his ten year old Ford Ranger . It started and he pulled into the street . Parking near the old man Scott put the truck 's hazard lights on before jumping out and running back to the old man . Scott helped him into the passenger street and was about to shut the door . " Don 't worry . I 'll put the bike in the back and gather up your groceries . I 'll be back . " Scott ran to the bike and lifting it over his head , carried it to the bed of the truck and laid it gently on top of an old tarp that was bunched up , like a cushion put there just for that purpose . Then he dashed back to the front of the truck and searched the road for the grocery bag . After a couple minutes he found the brown plastic bag , which was crinkled and shiny , looking like a pile of wet mud . There were a few cans in it and he took the bag and ran back to the truck . " There you go . There only seems to be cans in there , I hope that 's all you had , " Scott said as he climbed in and handed the bag to the old man . " If that 's what you want , sir , " Scott said , unsure about calling a man of his age by his first name . " What 's this for ? " Joe asked , leaning forward and tapping a small red bubble light on the dash board . " I 'm a Call Firefighter , " Scott answered . But Joe just looked at him , not understanding . " A volunteer fireman . I use the light in case of a fire in town , so I can get there faster . " Joe nodded his understanding , leaned back in the seat , and waited silently . But after a few moments of silence , Scott said , " Well then , Joe , I don 't know exactly where you live . Can you give me directions ? " " Wow , that 's quite a ride by bike to get to Grocery Mart , " Scott replied . " You don 't drive ? A car , I mean . " Scott stomped on his break pedal , coming to a complete stop in the middle of the road . " I tell you , Joe , I don 't see a turn here at all . " He rolled down the window and stuck his head out . Through the gloom and the sheets of rain he thought he could make out a darker area next to the maple tree and he noticed there was a mail box there . Hoping the old man knew what he was talking about , Scott turned into the dark hole . It was a driveway , of sorts ; it was gravel and there were two deep ruts with a grass berm in the middle . No car had driven down this driveway in a very long time . It was lined on both sides by maple trees , so that it would be in shadow even on the brightest day at noon . Scott put on his high beams in an attempt to pierce the gloom . They helped a little , but not much . The truck lurched from deep rut to shallow rut and back again . The driveway seemed to go on and on . " How long is this driveway ? " Scott didn 't dare take his eyes off the road to look at Joe . " Okay , " Scott said as he looked around . This had clearly been a true farm at one time , but now there might be a few chickens hiding in the coop , but not much else . Peering through the rain and past the fence , he thought he saw new houses , big McMansions . " Are there houses back there ? " " Oh . I see , " Scott really didn 't see , but wasn 't going to ask any questions . " Do you keep the bike in the lean - to ? " Scott jumped out and dashed to the back of the truck , grabbed the bike and ran to the lean - to . There was a cleared spot that was obviously where Joe kept the bike , it fit perfectly . Then Scott trotted back to the truck and opened the passenger door for Joe . As old Joe slowly walked towards the door , Scott walked beside him , his arm out , prepared to catch him if he fell . But he didn 't fall , he moved slowly but steadily towards the door . He reached the door which had a small overhang sheltering it from the worst of the rain . He turned to Scott , who was right behind him and reached for the grocery bag . He opened the door and stepped into his kitchen . Then he turned back to Scott , said , " Thank you much , " and shut the door . Scott stood for a moment under the overhang , staring at the closed door . Then he shook his head , laughed and ran for the truck . He started the engine and slowly headed back home . Two days later the rain finally stopped , at least for a while . Scott , wearing a flannel jacket against the chill , walked out to his mailbox , taking a circuitous route around his yard , checking for damage from the storms . There were lots of sticks down , a few broken branches , and leaves completely covered the grass . Scott nodded and said to himself , " Not bad . Could 've been way worse . " He grabbed his mail and turned to walk up the driveway , but noticed something shiny in the street in front of his stone wall . He walked over and picked up a can of peas . Looking around Scott saw a can of soup that had rolled down the street a little ways . He picked that up , too . " I 'll definitely be back in time for that . The smell of that pot roast has been making my mouth water every time I come inside , " he laughed , sniffing the air . " Though I don 't know why you keep making these big meals for just the two of us . " " You should save these big dinners for when the kids come home to visit , " Scott said . " Not that I don 't appreciate your pot roast , Sal . " He walked over to her , gave her a kiss and laughed saying , " Just don 't overcook it , like you always do . " Scott turned into the dark hole between the trees that was slightly more visible without rain . He held on tight to the steering wheel as the truck bounced its way down the rutted track . Parking the truck where he had parked two days before , Scott got out and walked up to the house . He knocked on the door and waited . Leaning to the side a little , Scott looked in the lean - to and saw Joe 's bike . After a few moments , he knocked again , harder this time and the door popped open . He could hear a loud metallic growl and whine , the sound of a very old vacuum cleaner . " No wonder he can 't hear me knock , " Scott said to himself . " Joe ! Hey Joe ! I found some cans you dropped ! " Scott stopped shouting . " What am I doing ? There 's no way he can hear me . I can 't hear me . I 'll just leave the cans . " Scott walked toward the unpainted kitchen table ; it had been wiped down so many times the finish was gone on the top , but the legs still showed the maple stain it had when it was young . He walked across the old fashioned linoleum that was gray and speckled with red , black and white dots , and set the cans down on the table . Looking around , Scott noticed details about the kitchen . The counters were linoleum , too , with metal strapping around the edges ; there was a huge porcelain sink with a built in drain board and the cabinets were pine . If the walls were once painted , the paint had faded to drab beige gray . But the room was scrupulously clean , not a speck of dirt on the counter or the floors , and the sink sparkled as if polished . Scott turned to the door to leave . Suddenly the noise stopped . The silence was deafening , Scott 's ears rang with a hum that echoed the previous noise . Then there was a sound , another growl , but this one wasn 't metallic . It was human . The growl was followed by a cawing sound , like a crow makes , but again , this was human . Scott stopped in his tracks and turned back towards the center of the house , he wondered if Joe was all right . Scott walked towards the sound , a doorway on the other side of the kitchen . He walked into a parlor , old fashioned with hardwood floors covered by faded oriental carpets and lace curtains at the windows . There were doilies on the tops of the tapestry upholstered chairs and doilies on the tables . In the center of the room was Joe , the vacuum waiting behind him as he knelt in front of a wheel chair . In the chair sat an elderly woman with gleaming snow white hair . A pink shawl rested on her shoulders and lace peeked out from the shawl at her neck . From what Scott could see her skin was pink and almost wrinkle - free , as if belonging to a much younger woman . She opened her mouth and made that cawing sound again as Joe gently patted her cheek . Scott must have made a sound because Joe started and looked away from the woman . " What are you doing here ? " Joe asked , frowning as he stood , placing himself between Scott and the woman . Even in faded trousers and an old brown sweater vest with a torn pocket , he looked like a warrior , a knight in tarnished armor , whose duty was to protect the princess . " Oh , I 'm sorry , Joe . I didn 't mean to intrude . I found some cans you dropped the other day . I knocked but you didn 't hear me . I was going to just leave them , but I heard a noise and worried that you might be hurt or something . " Scott spoke fast , running the words together as he backed towards the doorway . " Yes , I can see that , " Scott felt awkward . He had intruded on something private and didn 't know what to say . " Anyway , I left them on the table for you , " and he turned back towards the kitchen . Scott turned to answer him and saw that the woman had turned her face to follow Joe 's movements . He was startled to see a jagged scar that stretched from her right temple down her cheek to her throat , disappearing into her lace collar . It missed her eye but pulled the skin on her cheek , forcing that side of her face into an awkward , crooked grin . Joe stepped between him and the woman again . " I 'm fine , " he answered . " We 're fine . We don 't need anything or anyone . Good bye . " He reached for the edge of the door , opening it wider , encouraging Scott to leave . On Saturday , Scott walked into the Cozy Break coffee shop , as he did every Saturday . He waved to the other regulars and sat down at his usual place at the counter . Jeanine bustled over with a cup in one hand and a coffee pot in the other . " Yeah , Jeanine . Thanks . " She bustled away to toast his bagel . " Hey Frank , Jim , how 're you doing ? " he asked the two men sitting across the U - shaped counter from him . " You know how it is with me , " Jim said . " So busy . Barely get a day off . More and more new houses to inspect . Can 't believe how many folks are moving here . " Scott nodded at the two men to indicate he was fine and in the hope that Jim wouldn 't feel the need to give a blow - by - blow account of just how busy he was . Jim loved to play up his importance in town as the lone electrical inspector and exaggerated just about everything he did . But he was right about all the new people in town , they were moving out from the city in droves . Jim opened his mouth to continue but was distracted when Bob Robinson came in . Bob was a fireman in town , on the job for twenty - five years . He 'd lived in town his entire life , as did both Jim and Frank , but as a fireman with EMT training , he knew everyone 's secrets in town . He knew which husbands beat their wives and which people were secret addicts of prescription medicine . If the police , fire , or ambulance had ever been called to someone 's house , Bob knew the story behind it , and the history behind that . Scott , as a newbie with only fifteen years residence in town , wondered if Bob knew Joe 's story , and was trying to figure out how to word his question when Frank looked out the front window and said , " Hey , look , there goes old Joe . Man , does he get around ! " " He sure does . More than once I 've met up with him on the other side of town , when he got stuck cuz of flat tire or a change in weather . I 've given him a lift home a number of times , " Bob answered , nodding at Jeanine as she poured his coffee . Scott answered , " No , he sure didn 't . Said ' thank you much ' and closed the door in my face . " Scott didn 't feel he should say anything about his second trip to Joe 's house . He had seen things he wasn 't supposed to see , and somehow felt as if he had done something wrong . He was afraid to reveal something about Joe that no one was supposed to know ; Scott didn 't understand how , but it would be a betrayal of some kind . " Well , there was an accident maybe twenty , no , must be twenty - five years ago , " said Bob . " I don 't know all the details , it happened in the city . Joe and his wife , Abby I think her name was , had gone into the city for dinner or a show , or something . Anyway , it was winter , the roads were icy , and maybe Joe had a few drinks . He lost control of the car , it flipped and was totaled . " " Yeah , he put up a double row of fences to keep the neighbors out , " said Frank . " He mentioned the fences to me , " said Scott . " Told me they were to keep the kids out . I didn 't know what he was talking about . " " Yeah , he 's a man who likes his privacy , he always did , " Bob said . " Even before the accident he wasn 't very friendly with folks in town . And afterward , well … he just shut everyone out completely . Doesn 't like to accept help and won 't answer any questions . " " At the time , people asked him about what happened , but he refused to talk about it , " said Jim . " I noticed she wasn 't buried in either cemetery in town , so I asked where she was buried . " At their surprised faces he blustered , " I wanted to send flowers … " " Right . You wanted to send flowers , " said Frank frowning at Jim and shaking his head . " No , you didn 't . You were just being nosy . " " Jesus , Jim , I can 't believe you did that , " said Bob , a disgusted expression on his face . " Nobody else asked him questions , beyond asking how he was . One look and you could see he was a broken man . " Scott let the argument flow over him as he thought about Joe 's story and what he had seen with his own eyes . He knew something these old timers , the coffee shop coots as Sally called them , didn 't know . He could straighten them out if he wanted . Abby wasn 't dead . He could tell them that she was alive , physically anyway . But somehow that didn 't feel right . It 's funny , he didn 't know Joe ; before that rainy day he 'd never even spoken to him , but now he felt a kind of loyalty to him . Thinking about Joe and his life taking care of Abby , Scott wondered how he did it . How he devoted his life to Abby , and closed everyone else out . Scott tried to think what he would do in the same situation , but of course his life was different , he had his kids , too . But still , he had been thinking how quiet his house was with the kids grown up and gone . He wondered about himself and Sally , their life together . He loved her , of course he did , but could he do what Joe had done and give up all outside life for her ? Scott wasn 't sure he had the same strength that Joe did ; he had to respect Joe for that strength . So he would keep his mouth shut , Joe didn 't want the world to know , and the world wasn 't going to find out from Scott Anson . Scott woke to a pounding on the front door . The glowing numbers on the clock showed it was 2 : 30 in the morning . He crawled out of the covers and felt his way to the blanket chest at the foot of the bed . He forced his feet into the flannel pajama bottoms he found there and felt around some more but couldn 't find his tee shirt . Stumbling over to his work boots by the closet , he stuffed his bare feet into them and grabbed a flannel shirt from the closet . As he forced his arms through the sleeves he fast - shuffled out of the room , his laces clacking on the floor and the tongues of the boots slapping his shins . Once he got out of the bedroom he closed the door so the noise wouldn 't wake Sally and put the hall light on . He walked down the hall and into the living room , putting lights on as he went . The pounding never stopped . He snapped the front light on and unlocked the door . Swinging the door wide he was confronted by Joe . " Help me ! " Joe practically shouted . It was raining again . Joe 's raincoat was buttoned all askew . He wore pajama bottoms and slippers , no socks . He was pale and his eyes were opened wide . He grabbed the door frame and stood there , panting . " Something woke me . A noise , I don 't know . I got up and checked her . She didn 't look like she was breathing . I tried to wake her but couldn 't , " he paused and stared at Scott . " You can help , can 't you ? You 're a fireman . " " Okay . Okay , Joe , let me grab my keys and a jacket , " leaving Joe in the doorway he ran back to the bedroom , tying his boots on the fly . He fumbled in the dark for his truck keys and his cell phone . He came back out , grabbed a jacket off the hook and followed Joe back out into the rain . He unlocked the truck with the remote and grabbed Joe 's bike , which was laying on its side in the drive . " You get in the truck , Joe . I 'll put your bike in the back . " Scott got in , started the truck , and headed for Joe 's house . Except for the sound of the rain and the wind , the ride was completed in silence . Scott glanced over at Joe a few times and saw Joe 's face , pale and set with fear ; he still leaned forward , silently urging Scott and the truck to go faster . Another few minutes and they pulled up beside the house . Joe jumped out and ran for the open door . He hadn 't even shut it when he 'd rushed out . Turning , he waited impatiently for Scott to catch up . " Here in the bedroom , " he tore his coat off , dropping it on the floor , as he led Scott across the darkened parlor , through a door on the far side and into a large bedroom that spanned the house front to back . At one time , it was probably two small rooms and the dividing wall had been removed making one huge bedroom , which was a good thing because the room was jammed with furniture . There was a huge four poster bed in the center of the far wall , and at the foot of the bed was a small cot , with the covers jumbled in the center . Spaced around the walls there were three bureaus , a bookcase and an armoire . A recliner stood in the corner near the bed with a pole lamp beside it . Two nightstands , both covered by stacks of books , and a blanket chest rounded out the jumble of furniture . The furniture was large , over - sized pieces , old fashioned and ornate in design , with curlicues and cherubs carved into the wood . Her wheelchair stood waiting next to the bed . Scott noticed all of this with half his mind as he walked up to the bed , and pushed the wheelchair out of the way . Abby lay on her back , eyes closed , snow white hair a halo around her head . Her face was relaxed , making the ugly scar less noticeable . Her hands lay outside the covers , one by her side , the other touching the lace at her throat . Scott reached out to find a pulse in her neck . There was none . He felt the other side , and then her wrist . Still nothing . Not wanting to say it , he turned to Joe . Joe 's face told him that he already knew , but Scott had to say the words . Joe believed him this time . Slowly , he walked over to the bed and sat on the edge , facing her . He reached over and started smoothing her hair . Joe didn 't hear him , or didn 't care . Scott stepped out of the room and called the police on his cell phone . As he spoke , he looked over his shoulder at Joe and Abby . Joe held her hand and gently patted her cheek as he spoke quietly to her . Scott went into the kitchen to give Joe privacy to say goodbye to Abby . As he waited for the police and ambulance he again wondered if he would be able to do what Joe had done and devote himself to a wife who couldn 't even communicate with him or respond in the most basic way . He couldn 't imagine the silence in the house . The more he thought about it , the more confused he became . He loved Sally , but sometimes he wondered what their life would be like without the noise and activity of the kids . What would they talk about for the next thirty or forty years ? But if she was injured , disabled in some way , he would never leave her . He owed her loyalty . No , not loyalty , something more , more than love , even . Something that he saw in Joe 's face when he looked at Abby . They came and very efficiently verified that she was dead . Joe seemed unable to speak , so Scott explained what had happened . When they tried to put her body on a stretcher , Joe silently protested as if he would stop them , but Scott and the police officer stood in front of him . " They 'll take good care of her , Joe , " said Scott . " She has to go to the hospital , for now . They 'll call you to find out what funeral home to use . " " Somebody will come and talk to you tomorrow , " said the young police officer , a recent transplant to the town . He had all the information he needed for now and wanted to get going . He followed the EMT 's and the body out the door , leaving Scott alone with Joe . " Proud ! No . For twenty four years I 've watched over her . She was my life . It wasn 't a job or a duty , something to be proud of . It was just what I had to do , " Joe slumped into a kitchen chair and stared out the still open door . " Had to do ? " Scott asked , frowning in puzzlement . In Joe he saw a man who had given up everything to take care of his disabled wife . He seemed admirable . He certainly hadn 't had to do it . " Because I should have protected her . I couldn 't save her , so I prayed , ' please just let her live and I 'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her . ' And she lived . " " Taking care of her . She 's gone and I 'm still here , " Joe took a large shuddering breath and stared up at Scott . " I don 't know what to do now . " I am a woman who writes . My blog will have excerpts from my writing plus the occasional comment or quote . I don 't want to use my blog as a soap box to talk about politics or my pet peeves . My blog is specifically about writing : my own , other author 's , publishing , ideas , etc . That 's not to say that how I feel about the world and , yes , my pet peeves won 't be clear from my writing . Or not , maybe it will only reveal what my characters feel about their worlds . Read on and find out .