Contents
June 14, 1990
Overview
A 1990 diary entry at Brookbanks shows Peter helping with a gardening plan and bristling when the diarist becomes exclusive with Eric. She recalls Peter nearly kissing her months earlier, revealing long-standing mutual tension. This backstory reframes Peter’s protectiveness as possible romantic feeling, complicating past relationships.
Summary
In June 1990 at Brookbanks, the diarist describes planning a garden of ferns and begonias along the cabin path with her father’s permission. Peter helps scout locations by golf cart as she shares her excitement about the project.
When the diarist tells Peter she and Eric have agreed to be exclusive, Peter reacts sharply, nearly crashing the cart, and criticizes Eric as shallow and unworthy. She notes Peter has disparaged every boyfriend since she was seventeen, once attributed to big-brother protectiveness, but now she questions his motives.
Reflecting on an earlier weekend in Ottawa for her twenty-second birthday, the diarist recalls Peter lingering in an embrace while cleaning up and nearly kissing her. She admits she was disappointed when he didn’t, recognizing in hindsight that there may be unspoken feelings between them despite her relationship with Eric.
Who Appears
- PeterHelps with the garden; strongly disapproves of Eric; nearly kissed the diarist months earlier, suggesting deeper feelings.
- Narrator (1990 diarist)Young woman planning a garden; newly exclusive with Eric; questions Peter’s protectiveness after recalling a near-kiss.
- EricThe diarist’s new exclusive boyfriend; criticized by Peter as conceited and shallow.
- DadGrants permission for planting along the cabin path at Brookbanks.