“Same here. I go to stores these days and can’t find a thing I want to buy.”

“Does that mean we should become monks and renounce the world?”

“Funny you should say that. I was watching a program last night on Tibetan monks and it stirred a deep longing in me. That kind of lifestyle, so simple and pure.” He added, “But I have a few attachments that I’m not ready to give up yet.”

“Amy?”

“Yeah. Amy.”

“You know, whenever you say her name, you lower your voice. Why is that?”

“Probably for the same reason you frown whenever you mention your husband.”

“I don’t do that. Do I?”

“Yes.” Matt hesitated. “Did he hurt you?”

She paused. “I guess you could say that.” There was an awkward moment, then she turned toward the door. “I have to use the bathroom. Be back in a minute.”

She was gone a few minutes. When she returned, she checked on the water on the stove. She still had on her bathing suit, her legs less pale than the other day. She talked as if they had not been interrupted, a note of pain in her voice.

“There was another woman. There still is.”

“Did you know?” he asked.

“I did and I didn’t.”

“That’s rough,” he said.

“Do you mind herb teas? It’s all I drink these days.”

“Not at all. Give me whatever you’re having.”

She prepared the beverages with her back to him and continued in a soft voice. “I’m partly to blame. He kept telling me I wasn’t giving him the attention he needed. That I was ignoring our daughter. But he never told me he didn’t love me anymore. Because of that, I think, I never heard him. I just kept doing what I was doing. My career was important to me.”

“Were you working long hours?”

“Yes. I was away from home a lot.” She returned to the counter with the mugs of tea. “Do you want honey? Milk? Sugar?”

“Honey is fine. I wouldn’t have imagined a psychologist would travel much.”

“I lectured a lot.” She sat and sampled her tea. “Tell me about your relationship with Amy.”

“We’re attached to each other. But, like all couples, we have our problems.”

“Tell me about them.”

Matt laughed easily. “You’re taking a break from counseling, remember?”

“Forgive me, I’m just curious about you two. I just want to understand.”

He shrugged. “There’s nothing to understand. We’re like everyone else.”

She sipped her tea. “Somehow, I doubt that.”