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Holly Starley's avatar

Mary, there is such an intriguing exchange here. You are so good with dialogue and interactions. And this room, what an unfolding. Once again, I am intrigued on multiple levels.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Ah, Holly, so thrilled here to have you as an insightful reader.

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

I love the sense of place here, the movement from museum to street to the more intimate spaces of the garden and the brownstone. The air is weighted with rain and the fragrance of the garden. The details: the Lenten rose, Gershon serving Lipton tea, dirt under one nail. The room, rented unseen and for more than the asking price. Beautiful.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Ah, Mary, what a close read and what a lovely comment. As one writer to another, my heart thanks you for this.

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Del's avatar

So much to like here, and I especially enjoyed one little tidbit: the subtle put-down of the arrogantly censorious history "expert." Sadly prescient.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Ah, you mean prescient as "au courant": Today's politics? If so, I so agree, good sir...

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Alisa Kennedy Jones's avatar

Gershon is marvelously imagined.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Gershon might be my favorite character though his presence here is brief ... xx Alisa ~ M.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

The second sentence ... I didn't know that was coming! But like so much of your writing, I never know what's next and it's that surprise and intrigue that keeps me diving in week after week. Just beautiful Mary, well done! xx, s

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

That second sentence was a biggy for me too. Thank you so, Susan, for keeping on reading! big xx

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Thank you, Deni, for the restack.

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Gosh, the isolation Lena was feeling, and then creating more of it with physical distance. Really tuning into her heaviness in this episode, wondering how much of it is a form of self-punishment.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Maybe ... I hadn't actually thought that before, Kimberly, wise reader.

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

A beautiful chapter, Mary. I loved the conversation between Gershon and Lena.

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Ah, Jeffrey, Hanging with me on this journey. Gershon, one of my favorites, the way we come to care so for a character we create ...

What a literary community we're creating here.

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

Indeed we are, all thanks to you!

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

This feels like the saddest episode yet... "She must have been quieted by the plants," Oh Mary...❣️

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

Yes, in a way, but realization for Robert is taking its time, I hope the way it does in real life.

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Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

"She must have been quieted by the plants, by the copper bay window gone to verdigris, by the house next door with its Victorian turret and stained glass windows—all of it on this street in the middle of the bustling city".... a moment to capture our relationship to the permanence of things

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<Mary L. Tabor>'s avatar

You hit it! But then you always do; makes you a reader to love!

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