Two By Two

“I know. It’s been absolutely crazy.”

Though I might have been imagining it, she didn’t sound as bothered by the recent schedule as I was. “And about dinner tonight…”

She shook her head. “Let’s not talk about it, Russ. I just want to relax.”

“I was trying to tell you that I was getting concerned when I didn’t hear from you…”

She lowered the magazine.

“Really?”

“What?”

“You want to do this right now? I told you that I’m tired. I told you I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Why are you getting upset again?”

“Because I know what you’re trying to do.”

“What am I trying to do?”

“You’re trying to get me to apologize, but I didn’t do anything wrong. Do you want me to say that I’m sorry for getting a good job? Or to apologize for trying to dress like a professional? Or for getting a bite to eat because I was shaking? Did you ever stop to think that maybe you should apologize for trying to pick a fight in the first place?”

“I wasn’t trying to pick a fight.”

“That’s exactly what you were trying to do,” she said, staring at me like I was crazy. “You got upset as soon I told you that I’d already eaten, and you wanted to make sure I knew it. So I tried to be sweet. I invited you to the dining room to show you what I got. I kissed you. And right after that, you started in on me, just like you always do.”

I knew there was some truth in what she said. “Okay, you’re right,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll admit that I was disappointed that you’d eaten before you got home —”

“Ya think?” she said, cutting me off. “And that’s the thing with you. Believe it or not, you’re not the only one with feelings around here. Did you ever stop to think about the pressure I’ve been under lately? So what do you do? Make things hard as soon as I walk in the door and even now, you can’t let it go.” She stood from the couch and kept talking as she started to leave the room. “I just wanted to watch my show and read my magazine and sit with you without fighting. That’s it. Was that too much to ask?”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to lie in bed for a while, because I want to relax. You’re welcome to join me, but if you’d rather start arguing again, then please don’t bother.”

Then she was gone. I turned off the television, sitting in silence for the next hour, trying to figure out what had happened to my wife and me.

Or, more specifically, how I could make things better between us.

I woke up late on Sunday to an empty bed.

I tossed on a pair of jeans before trying to tame the oddly shaped waves of hair that greeted me in the mirror every morning. It was a disappointing predicament, made worse by the fact that Vivian usually woke looking already groomed.

Since Vivian had been asleep by the time I crawled into bed, I wasn’t sure what to expect but as I approached the kitchen, I could hear my wife and daughter laughing.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Daddy!” London called out.

Vivian turned and winked, smiling at me as though the night before had never happened at all. “Perfect timing,” she offered. “I just finished making breakfast.”

“It smells fantastic.”

“Come here, handsome,” she said.

I approached, assuming she was trying to gauge my mood, and when I was close, she kissed me. “I’m sorry about last night. You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. And I’m sorry, too.”

“How about I make you a plate of food? I made the bacon extra crispy for you.”

“That would be great.”

“Coffee’s ready, too. The creamer should be right there.”

“Thanks,” I said. I poured a cup and brought it to the dining room table, taking a seat next to London. I kissed the top of her head as she reached for her milk.

“How’re you doing, sweetie? Did you have any good dreams?”

“I can’t remember,” she said. She took a gulp of milk, which left the trace of a milk mustache.

Vivian brought two plates to the table, with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, placing them in front of us. “Do you want some juice? There’s some fresh-squeezed orange juice.”

“Sounds great. Thanks.”

Vivian brought those over as well, along with her own plate. Unlike ours, her plate had a small portion of scrambled egg whites and fruit.

I took a bite of bacon. “What time did you get up?”

“An hour ago, maybe? You must have been exhausted. I don’t think you even heard me get out of bed.”

“I guess I must have been,” I said.

“I will say that if you hadn’t gotten up, I was about to send London back there to jump on you.”

I turned toward London, my mouth agape. “You wouldn’t have done that, would you? If I was still sleeping?”

“Of course I would have,” London said, giggling. “Guess what? Mommy is taking me to the mall to pick up her clothes, and then we’re going to the pet store.”

“What’s at the pet store?”

“Mommy said I could get a hamster. I’m going to name her Mrs. Sprinkles.”

“I didn’t know you wanted a hamster.”