n't speak

ing out in small clusters-but the space between us felt sea

y, as if testing the word. "Y

es

it sit between us the way it had sat between

d. "There would have been n

the papers

I would remember sig

dn't re

nce lande

quie

tages-confusion giving way to doubt, doubt slip

?" he

years

ely noticeable. "That

kno

cts nonstop. I truste

e, he alm

d it," he s

es

ame in the answ

have told m

g home. Every time you sent someone else to apologize for

w tigh

s not

accu

was trying to reconcile the woman in front of

you'd leave,"

e. "That's w

stretche

k," he said suddenly

ost s

"The marriage you d

se is sti

er mine," I said. "

ned. "You're acting

"Just slowly enough th

loser, lower

asked. "Why

r you," I said. "I s

at his side. "Are

s gaze s

doesn't belong

ng brok

y. Not dr

shoulders stiffened, in th

my wife,

. "And you were

t t

ke the air had been k

to leave, he d

as if he were watching something valuable slip through his fing

phone lit up with a

kn

ed to

n, then set the phone

ld have rearranged my

ld sit with

read