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A pr i l 2016 103 aroma and stepped onto her balcony over- looking Casco Bay. She watched the ice-en- crusted fishing boats emerging from be- yond the Calendar Islands and chugging into Portland Harbor with their bounty. She drank in the bays heady saltiness and set her mind adrift to the cacophony of marine traffic bell buoys and water birds. Hot tea and smoke from the still-icy harbor mingled into misty tendrils adding visual poetry to the diversion. How are you The Spring Point Ledge fog horn moaned its misgivings shattering her reverie. Why the hell should you care You were so wrapped up in yourself and your fans. How are you A Coast Guard cut- ter blasted a warning as it broke up the ice choking the main shipping channel. You scourged my soul and you embar- rassed the hell out of me in the tabloids. I hat- ed that life. Im glad to be free of it and you. How are you The question hovered precariously above her balcony. Shit Succumbing to the bitterness she slipped back inside but left the slider open a smidge hoping the onshore breeze would purge him away. The question was waiting on the lap- top screen but was hidden behind a slide show of book signings vacations and fam- ily and friends. She smiled back at her smil- ing image kayaking near Peaks Island. Im okay. I have a great life. She took down the screen saver. As the kayak faded from view a second question surfaced. Are you there As she read the words she could hear his gentle voice as if he were standing at her shoulder. You know I amyou can see Im still signed on. She finished her tea and set the deli- cate cup on its saucer concentrating on the chickadee-and-pine motif to delay looking back at the screen. Finding no respite there her eyes sought out and caressed his words. Are you there She felt his hand softly on hers. I guess I owe you a reply. I started this. RavenHiswarmbreathuponherneck She inhaled sharply and eased her hands toward the sharks mouth. n Portland native Karen Lessard is in the U.S.Forest Service.Shes presently posted in northern Minnesota.