Mel went back to work but, left again shortly afterward. His painting had arrived and he took it home . After unpacking the painting he hung it. He was tired from the effort it took to have lunch with his son and pretending that he was fine . He wasn't fine and hadn't been since the last of the brood moved out and Sheridan with them.
Mel leaned back in his recliner and gazed at the painting titled The open Road . That was what it was an open road. The scene invoked memories from his youthful ,wild years. Then he had met Sheridan. Picked her up off the roadside and shown her part of his life. The seemed to enjoy it revel in it and some how she brought something new to it for him. Two months later, or was it more? They were at her house and he was meeting her family and friends and town. They had talked about marriage and he guessed he asked her to marry him. A day or two later he met Brien King II, and told her he wouldn't marry her. That was the day he lost her. He knew that now.