Petal Bear. Thin, moist, hot.

THEN, at a meeting, Petal Bear. Thin, moist, hot.

Grey eyes close together, curly hair the color of oak. The fluorescent light made her as pale as candle wax. Her eyelids gleamed with some dusky unguent. A metallic thread in her rose sweater.

Petal Bear was crosshatched with longings, but not, after they were married, for Quoyle.

While she remained a curious equation that attracted many mathematicians.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx