Sexes: The Marriage Dialogues

How Married People Break and Make Up

32 How Married People Break and Make Up He said, “I’m not ignoring you.” She called him a name. He mumbled what she thought she heard. “And don’t say a word about my mother, you egotist.” He held a single scrubbed potato in his hand and said, “I asked you for another, and your mother had nothing to do with it.” “Don’t lie.” He denied whatever she denied whenever she denied whatever he denied. Meanwhile the dog hid in the pantry. “You think more of the dog than you do of me.” With that she marched upstairs and shut the bedroom door with a will. When she returned to the kitchen, she was dressed for the street. “I’m going to my sister’s, so don’t wait for me.” “Dinner’s on the table.” “I hope you enjoy it.” “Remember Ernie Cavanaugh?” She started to leave, then turned. 33 “What about Ernie Cavanaugh?” “What about who?” “Ernie Cavanaugh—you brought it up!” “I saw him at lunch with his wife, that’s all, and they looked great.” “He couldn’t look great because he’s still in love with me.” “I doubt if anyone could stop being in love with you.” “Who is she?” “She said her name was Gretchen.” “Gretchen?” “Gretchen.” “Did Ernie ask about me?” “So many times he made me think you married the wrong man.” “Don’t ever say that.” “Maybe it’s true.” “I’d never marry a man with dirty fingernails, and Ernie had dirty fingernails.” “I thought you were going to Ruth’s.” “I changed my mind,” she said as she sat across from him and added, “I can change my mind whenever I want to, can’t I?” ...