A Difficult Conversation, Perhaps?

A Difficult Conversation, Perhaps?

“We have to talk.”

Ross shivered as Lydia said the words he’d been dreading. He joined her in the living room but sat in a chair away from the sofa where she was seated.

His wife of forty years sat sipping a large gin and tonic while she looked at him over the rim of the glass.

“Did you want one of these?”

“Maybe after we talk, I’ll have a bourbon and branch.”

She nodded and put her empty glass down on the etched mirror coffee table that sat between them.

She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Ross said:

“How long have you known him?”

She looked startled.

“I don’t know what you’re taking about.”

“This new toy boy you’ve taken up with, how long?”

She was silent.

“What about your latest? Candy, is it?”

“She’s a just a new client.”

Lydia said a foul word, almost under her breath.

“We were talking about your fling...”

“What do you care what I do, since you have your own distractions!”

“Do you want a divorce?”

“No! Do you?”

They stared at each other, at a loss as to where to go from there.

Lydia stood up and began to pace. Ross watched for several minutes.

“What do you want to do, then?” he finally asked.

“Go on as we are, I guess.”

“I do love you, I’m just not in love with you,” she finally told him, with a kiss on his bald spot.

“Same here. The difference is, I want to get back to being in love with you. Do you think it can be done?” Ross insisted as he grabbed her hand and pulled her down on his lap.

“Practice does make perfect,” Lydia whispered as he carried her to their bedroom.