Page 30 of The Marriage Sham
Chapter Sixteen
Fen
I’m staring at my fancy coffee wishing it to be magic. Well, more magical than caffeine normally is. Could the java and cream and sugar all combine to imbue me with the courage and the right words to say to Francie to make everything right again?
I stayed up all night pacing the floor in my house that didn’t even seem like my house anymore. My home is with Francie, in that old farmhouse of hers. But she’d made it clear I am not welcome. She’d asked me to stay away, and since I love and respect her more than anyone in the whole world, I’d followed her demands.
Regret was my companion, leaving my head racing when I should have been sleeping, but all night long I believed we could figure this out. When the sun came up, I made my way over to her house and went to knock on the door. There was a note, in her bubbly handwriting, addressed to me.
Need more time.
That was it.
One massive misunderstanding created by the worst timing in the world, and I got three words. So I turned right around and went back to my house, grabbed my jacket, and high tailed it over to Lover’s Landing.
Clearly I needed advice.
And caffeine.
“Ya gonna add human tears to my special coffee concoction?”
I glance up and see Harold slipping into a chair across the table from me. His joke doesn’t even get a smile. Not today. “I just might, old man.”
“Whatsa’ matter? Get in your first fight with the missus?”
Guess the sad sap routine is transparent. I shrug and take another swig. The coffee really is good, whatever it is.
Harold whistles, and Betty bustles over and slides into another chair to my right. “Oh no, what did you do?”
My jaw drops. “What do you mean ‘what did I do’? I didn’t do anything!”
Betty crosses her arms over her chest, her beady eyes drilling into my forehead. “Oh really? Then why are you here depressing all of our customers with your black cloud?”
I go to stand. “Fine, I’ll leave.”
She presses her hand to my arm and squeezes. “Sit down, young man.” When I settle back in my chair, she continues in a warmer tone. “Clearly something happened, so why don’t you talk it out with us. We’ve been married over forty years and have faced our fair share of arguments. I’m sure we can help.”
I sigh and rub my burning eyes. “It’s just a misunderstanding. Frances saw me talking to an ex-girlfriend who didn’t realize I was married. She tried to kiss me and I pushed her away, but Frances came at the worst possible time and now she won’t talk to me.”
Betty and Harold exchange a look, and it makes my chest ache. I can see a whole conversation passing between the two of them with just a glance. That’s what I want with Francie. That’s what’s at stake here. A long, beautiful future together, full of meaningful looks and connection.
“Okay, look. You gotta be straight with me. Promise me you didn’t fool around on Frances.” Harold’s looking at me like he might pull out the shotgun.
I stare right back, nothing to hide. “I promise you on my life. I would never mess up what I have with Francie. She’s everything to me.” I thump the table with my closed fist. “Do you hear me? Everything.”
There’s a pause, and I feel their assessment. Then Betty’s patting my arm, soothing over the sting of their doubt. “Okay, honey, we believe you. Now here’s the thing about women. We want to be heard. You know what I mean? Reallyheard. You need to go talk to her and don’t get all defensive. Listen to her, Fen.”
I’m nodding, waiting for her to continue. When she doesn’t, I look between her and Harold. “That’s it?”
He clears his throat and leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “She doesn’t mean just listen with your ears, boy. Frances will tell you she’s fine. Or that it doesn’t matter. Your job is to listen to what she’s not saying. Look underneath the words.”
Betty beams at him. “See? He gets it.” Then she turns to me. “Once you’ve done that, then you need a big gesture.”
I shake my head. “A big gesture?”
“Absolutely. I can’t tell you what that is, but after you’ve really listened to her, you should have a good idea of what means the most to her. That’s your grand gesture.”
Harold snaps his fingers. “Works every time.”
