“I still love you with all my heart. I honestly do.” His eyes were welling up with tears. Tori couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him express himself this way. “I know I’ve been a prig at times, but I’m just mad at myself. I should have done a better job providing for you.”

“That’s not what I wanted. I can provide for myself just fine.”

“Exactly,” he muttered.

“What I wanted was a partner. Someone to share my life with, not just a roof over my head. We never talk. We never do anything together.” She sighed. And then she realized that they were having the conversation her boss encouraged her to have. “We’ve made love maybe once or twice in the past eight months.” She was sure it was at least once.

“I thought you didn’t want me, and you were disappointed in me.”

“It’s the opposite. I want to share time with you. I want us to be together more. Look, I know you like hanging out with your friends, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some quality time together.”

He looked up at her, wiping the tears with his sleeve. “Wow. We should have had this talk a long time ago.”

“I know, and I blame myself. I’ve always avoided confrontation. I thought if I brought up anything that you didn’t like, we would get into an argument. I guess I was hoping for magic thinking.” She used the term George Layton introduced to her during the conversation she had had with him.

“Huh. ‘Magic thinking.’ Yeah, that probably doesn’t work very much, eh?” He finally smiled. “So.” He paused. “Do you think there is a chance for us now?” He took her hand and looked into her eyes, pleading for her acceptance.

Tori almost fell off her chair. “Honestly? I would like to think there is, but I don’t really know.”

“Do you still love me?” His eyes were pleading.

“I’ve always loved you. The you I ran away with. This guy”—she pointed at him—“I’m not sure I know him very well.”

“I guess I got a little too macho from the job.” He nodded. “Then, when you got the job at the law firm and were making the same money as me, I really felt intimidated. I guess I’ve been acting out. And not in a good way.”

She held her breath, and asked, “Would you consider us going to couples counseling?”

“Really?” He blinked several times but seemed genuinely interested.

“Really. And we can keep it to ourselves. No reason to broadcast it to any of our colleagues or friends. Not that I have many.”

“I kinda blame myself for that, too.” He truly looked forlorn. “I expected you to be the dutiful wife while I was being a half-assed husband. It’s as if I had you in a cage.”