To say that dinner was awkward would be an understatement.
Julia and Gabriel sat side by side. They even held hands during grace. But there was only painful, detached politeness—no warm glances, no whispered words of affection, no fleeting touches under the table.
Gabriel’s spine was ramrod straight, his demeanor cool. Julia was quiet and remote.
Richard, Aaron, and Rachel kept the conversation fluid while the Emersons barely spoke. After dinner, Julia declined dessert and excused herself to work on her lecture.
Gabriel’s eyes followed her as she left the table, a muscle jumping in his jaw. But he didn’t stop her. He simply watched her walk away.
When Rachel went to the kitchen to make coffee, Aaron decided that he’d had enough. He leaned across the table.
“Man, suck it up and tell her you’re sorry.”
Gabriel lifted his eyebrows.
“Why are you assuming that I’m at fault?”
“Because you’re the one with a dic—” Aaron caught his father-in-law’s eye and began coughing. “Um, statistically speaking, eighty percent of fights are the guy’s fault. Just apologize and get it over with. I don’t want to have to sit through another meal like that. It’s so cold in here, I’m going to have to go outside to warm up.”
“I think I have to side with Aaron. Not that you’re asking.” Richard chuckled to himself.
Gabriel looked between the two men with something akin to disgust.
“I tried talking to her. That’s how our argument started. She locked herself in the bathroom and told me to get lost.”
Richard and Aaron exchanged a knowing look.
“You’re in trouble.” Aaron whistled. “You’d better talk to her before bed or you’re looking at couch time.”
He shook his head before moving to the kitchen to join his wife.
Richard tapped the stem of his wine glass thoughtfully.
“Et tu, Brute?” Gabriel scowled.
“I didn’t say anything.” Richard looked at his son kindly. “I’ve been trying to stay out of it.”
“Thank you.”
“But there’s a reason why old married couples tell the young ones not to let the sun go down on their anger. Dealing with problems when they’re small will make both of your lives easier.”
“I can’t exactly have a conversation through a locked door.”
“Of course you can. You wooed her once; woo her again.”
Gabriel wore an incredulous expression. “You’re telling me to woo my wife?”
“I’m telling you to let go of your ego, apologize, and then listen to her. I wasn’t always the man you see before you. You can learn from my mistakes.”
“You and Mom had the perfect marriage.”
Richard laughed.
“Our marriage was far from perfect. But we made a pact early on that we would keep the imperfection out of sight and hearing of you children. Children get anxious when their parents argue. In my experience, couples fight over money, sex, and a lack of respect or attention.”
Gabriel began to protest, but Richard lifted a hand. “I’m not asking what your disagreement was about. That’s between you and your wife. It’s obvious that Julia’s feelings have been hurt. She was very withdrawn over dinner, the way she used to be before she began seeing you.”
“I’m not the one who shut down rational communication.” Gabriel sounded imperious.
“Listen to yourself.” Richard’s tone turned scolding. “Julia isn’t irrational. She’s hurt. When someone hurts you, it’s rational to withdraw. Especially considering her history.”
Gabriel grimaced. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“I’m sure that’s true. But I’m also confident that you don’t fight fairly. Learning how to argue with a spouse is an art, not a science. It took your mother and me a long time to figure it out. But once we did, we rarely argued. And when we did, it wasn’t ugly or hurtful. If you can argue with Julia while still convincing her that you love her and that she’s important to you, your conflicts will be easier to manage.” Richard finished his wine and placed the glass on the table.
“Take it from someone who was married a while and who brought up a daughter. When a woman withdraws and is cold, it’s because she’s protecting herself. My advice is to be gentle with your wife and coax her out of that locked room. Or prepare to spend a lot of lonely nights on the couch.”
It was after midnight by the time Julia closed her laptop. She knew everyone had gone to bed. She’d heard their footsteps in the hall.
She crept to the door of the study and opened it. Light shone from underneath the closed door to the master bedroom. No doubt Gabriel was awake, reading.
She contemplated going to him. But the distance to his bed seemed interminable.
She grabbed the bottle of bubble bath she’d spirited away from their bathroom after dinner. She’d take another hot bath in the guest bathroom and try to forget her troubles.
A half hour later, Julia reentered the study, shutting the door behind her. She felt refreshed but only marginally more relaxed. Since Gabriel seemed determined to keep his distance, she’d sleep on the couch.
As she lay under the old wool blanket they’d first shared so many years ago in the orchard, she thought of their home back in Cambridge. She thought of their first few months of marriage and how happy they’d been.