Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
"Sounds like a big deal. Getting caught up in a murder trial." Didn't ask anything beyond that, though there was a question in the lift of his eyebrow. Didn't think this man looked like a murderer, but you never knew. Couldn't tell that on sight. He wasn't worried, even before Hugh said he wasn't the murderer. "Not accusing you of anything. Don't know you well enough for accusations. Just saying I'm familiar with the trope in novels. Man doesn't love woman until she falls in love with someone else. You know how it goes." Curious. Took the bait a moment later. "Why did you love her?"
A chuckle. "Spent my teen years in a fishing village in upstate New York. Am sure Seattle was much more accepting." Didn't mind those years. Missed the simplicity of that life, even if the one that came after offered much more in the way of literature and academic conversations. But made a sound of agreement a moment later. "Think we're not supposed to like who we are in the middle of bad times. Part of learning. But agree that no one should feel badly longer than is healthy. Can be consequences. Bad consequences. My advice, is learn from whatever it happened, then leave it behind. Easier said than done, I know."
Glanced back at the island. "That island ages people down. Bought it. Other people can't go there and be affected anymore, but my cowardly and older self went there on purpose. His version of suicide, I guess. But with less permanence." Sounded calm about it, not bothered. Was just what it was. Was accustomed to it, or more accustomed to it with every day that passed.
The boat was on a straight path to the next curve around said island. Motioned to the rudder. "Want to give it a try? Straight ahead for a few minutes, so no harm."