Chapter 14

Linda looked at the house. Dennis was standing a few steps behind her. Afraid of saying anything else. They have driven there in complete silence. Dennis could see the wheels turning in his wife’s head.

Wasn’t it the ultimate kicker that she looked perfect surrounded by the old ivy-covered brick and wraparound porch? He’d pictured her in front of the house so many times, but his imagination hadn’t done it justice.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Linda. I put it back in the market to pay for the Daycare. That’s what you wanted.”

“No!” She stood, fists balled at her sides. “No, don’t act like I had anything to do with this decision-making process. I didn’t even know we owned a house or the money to buy one in the first place.”

She looked at the house with tears in her eyes.

“It’s beautiful! Damn you, Dennis!” She screamed in desperation.

He took a step forward, eagerly ready to comfort her, but she held up a trembling hand stopping him. “How long have we owned it?”

He hardened his jaw and didn’t answer.

“Tell me.”

“A year,” he croaked, unable to look at her.

A sound of disbelief from Linda had him glancing back to find full-fledged betrayal on her beautiful face. She might as well have rammed a knife into his chest.

“I’m sorry I fucked up,” he said raggedly, the apology like a last-ditch life preserver. “Once we started counseling I was afraid to tell you. I didn’t want to remind you why you left.”

She took several breaths with her eyes closed. “I need some time...”

Panic clobbered him. He extended his hand towards her. “No.”

“I have to process this, you stupid silent idiot!” Linda burst out. “Goddammit, Dennis I’m so mad at you!”

“I know. Let’s just sit down and talk about this.”

“It feels like the last few weeks are tainted now. All this time, we were supposedly making progress, but we weren’t. Not really.”

Dennis dropped his head into his hands, his thumbs biting into his eye sockets. “I keep screwing things up.” He banged a fist against the side of his head. “What’s wrong with me? Please, Linda. I love you. I’m sorry.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered. “But the fact remains that you kept something so huge from me.” She opened her mouth and then closed it, “I ... I just don’t know if I can get right with this.”

“Why Dennis? I need to understand why you can’t talk to me. Why you left your work and came back to me as a silent statue the barely acknowledged my presence.”

He gulped, shivering, it was now or never.

“They say oil work is more dangerous than coal mining. It’s true. People unfamiliar with the industry use to think that most of the risks we face are physical ones, such as falls or being struck by a heavy piece of equipment, or the risk of fire or an explosion.”