5.

"Kindness is deeper than most people know."

In the morning, Peg's house was filled with light. Sam was sitting on a white leather couch, looking out at water through a sliding door to the downstairs deck. He could see the airport at the bottom of the
mountain, near the ocean. As an airplane made its approach, he heard Peg behind him on the stairs. He turned. "Good morning, starshine."
"Good morning." She was wearing a white terry cloth robe. Her hair was wrapped in a blue towel. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she said, "I smell coffee."
"I made some. Hope you don't mind."
"Don't be silly." She walked to the kitchen and poured herself a cup.
"Saves me from having to do it." She brought her mug and sat next him. A handwritten page was lying on a glass table in front of them. It had been folded many times.
She sipped her coffee. "What's that?" she asked.
"Ancient history."
"From Corrina?" He nodded. "Mind if I read it?"
He sat up straight. "Not at all."
She picked up the page. She read it while smoking a cigarette. After finishing, she folded it and placed it back on the table. "Whoa."
"Yeah."
"She sounds serious."
"Yep."
They sat in silence. She smoked the rest of her cigarette. "Well I've got to get dressed," she said. "I don't have to work till seven. You want to do something?" She stood up.
"Sure."
"Good. It's gorgeous out." As she was climbing the stairs, the telephone chirped. She hurried to her bedroom to answer it.
A few minutes later, she reappeared at the top of the stairs wearing frayed white shorts and a light blue halter top. She was talking on a portable phone.
"Walking, I told you already." She came down the
stairs quickly. "Hey. Look. We're not married."
She picked up a watering can and began watering plants around the room. "Alec, I just needed some space, alright? I don't mind you going off with..." Phyladendrums on a short stand. She looked closely
at one of the leaves. "How could I be jealous of..." Bromeliads, hanging from a hook. "You give yourself way too much..." Diffenbachia beneath a bookcase. "I got a ride from Sam." Ficus tree, standing tall, near the sliding door. "No. Christ, Alec. I ran into him by accident." Pepperomia down the steps. "Yes. He slept on the couch."
She put down the watering can and sat down. "Yes, he's here." She looked at Sam. "No. You can't. He's in the shower." She shook her head slowly. "Look. Alec. I'm sick of the..." She tapped her fingernails on the glass table. "Alec," speaking slowly, "I'll make it clear for you. Fuck off. Leave me alone."
She clicked off the phone. Without looking at Sam, she stood up and went to the sliding door. She leaned against it with her palms flat against the glass and looked out at the airport.
"He is such an ass." She turned around. "Let's get out of here. He'll probably be here in fifteen minutes. Let's go somewhere."
"Peg, I'm sorry if I caused any problems."
She went up to the kitchen and grabbed her handbag.
"Don't worry. You didn't cause anything. He's an ass. And I'm a bigger one."