The Rhythm Method (Stage Dive 4.80)

Lena headed into the kitchen.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“After he groveled for a suitable amount of time I forgave him.” She shrugged. Then she fetched wine glasses out of the wooden bar cabinet. “He learned his lesson. At least, I think he did. With him it can be hard to tell. But he doesn’t tend to make the same mistake twice.”

“Not to be annoying, but honestly, David and I don’t usually fight. So this has kind of thrown me. I don’t even know where he is right now. I sent him a text, asking if he was okay, and nothing.” I arranged the Chinese takeout containers on the coffee table. My mouth was watering. Misery loves dumplings, apparently.

“I’ve got an update,” said Lena, emerging from the kitchen with plates and silverware. “Jimmy just texted me. David is at our place.”

“He is?”

Lena nodded. “And he is apparently very subdued. They’re talking things through.”

“Thank God.”

“They’re brothers.” Anne smiled. “They’ll work it out.”

“It’s true. The sibling bond is tight but occasionally fractious,” said Lizzy. “For example, Anne used to pull my hair.”

“I did not!”

“Oh you did so. Be honest.”

Anne frowned. “Fine. But it was only that one time when you gave my favorite doll a haircut.”

“And she looked amazing with a fauxhawk.”

Anne just sighed and started serving herself some crispy duck.

“I can’t talk,” said Lena. “My sister stole my loser boyfriend and married him. Though that only lasted two years. Not a surprise. She’s happy with an older man now. He indulges her every whim. I could have told her she was narcissistic and needed a sugar daddy. Pretty sure I did, actually. But the point I’m making is, families are weird.”

“I hear you.” I loaded up a plate. “My dad still likes to name drop divorce lawyers during family dinners sometimes. Just to keep David on his toes, apparently.”

“Yikes,” said Lizzy, rocking the baby.

“I’m not hungry.” Anne held out her arms to him. “I’ll take him while you eat.”

“Why aren’t you hungry?”

“Just feeling a bit off. No big deal.”

Lizzy narrowed her eyes on her sister as she handed the infant over. “Anne, is there something you’d like to share with the group?”

“No.”

“How about a glass of wine?”

“Not right now. Maybe later.” Anne settled the baby over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

Her sister did not look pacified. “Hmm.”

Lena and I exchanged a glance, but said not a word. Whatever was going on with Anne was her own business. Though why we gave her privacy when they were all up in my business, I don’t know. Not that I wasn’t glad to have them all there. Being surrounded by my friends made things instantly better. Along with knowing David and Jimmy were talking things through.

Guess respecting a friend’s privacy had a lot to do with giving that friend what they needed in that particular moment. And cross your fingers you didn’t get it wrong. Every relationship was tricky. They all took work.

“Thank you for being here, you guys,” I said to one and all. “I really mean it. This would have been so much more difficult to handle alone. I feel like David is just opting out of our life together. Like the idea of being a family doesn’t appeal. He hardly talks to me. Won’t discuss a name for the baby. He just…I don’t know.”

Anne frowned. “That sounds really hard.”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I’m worried this is going to be the end of us. And I don’t know what to do.”

Lena moved to my side and slipped an arm around my shoulders. “One thing at a time, Ev. Eat now. You have to look after yourself so you can look after the baby. Then we’ll come up with a plan for dealing with your fool of a husband.”

“Okay.” I sniffed. “Thank you.”

She smiled. “Anytime.”

Chapter Four

David: I need a couple of days.

Me: For what?

David: Just to sort things out. Ok?

Me: We always said we’d face things together.

David: Ev, I can’t. I need the space to fix things on my own this time.

Me: I don’t even know what to say. Ok I guess. You’re not giving me any other options.

Me: I don’t like it, but if that’s what you need.

David: Thank you. I love you.

Me: I love you too.

I sat at the table with the baby monitor, staring into space. How many different ways could your heart break? That was the question. It felt like mine had been entrusted to the wrong person suddenly. David and I had always had each other’s backs. We’d always done our best to be there for each other and now…he wasn’t coming home. Not yet at least. Maybe not ever. And I hated not knowing as much as I hated him not being here.

Head in my hands, I sat and cried.

* * * *

The call came from the front desk just after two the next afternoon. “Mrs. Ferris? A Jude Darcy is here to see you. She says she was sent by Mr. Ferris.”