Page 25 of Everlasting Vows

My little sister squeals and does a little dance on the sidewalk. “Oh my god. The girls love your presents.”

Smiling for the first time in hours, I blow on my nails and buff them on my coat. “That’s because I’m the best aunt.”

She shoves my shoulder with hers, then winks. “Let’s not tell them you’re their only aunt.”

“Shhhh, it’s our secret.”

We both chuckle as we head toward the parking lot. Callie points to her car. “I’m over there.”

I walk her to her car, beneath the flicker of the tall lights that don’t light up the entire space, grateful she parked directly beneath one like Nix and I taught her. She unlocks her car and tosses her purse across to the passenger seat, then turns, embracing me tightly. I return her hug and kiss her cheek. “I love you. Please look after yourself and enjoy your family.” I pull away, still holding her shoulders. “I’m sorry about to⁠—”

She shakes her head before I can finish my apology. “Please don’t do that.”

“I feel like I ruined our night. We barely get to see each other, and I made it all about me and my problems.” Guilt wraps around my stomach like a snake, tightening and sending bile up to my throat. I swallow it down and take a deep breath. “It’s the last thing I wanted to do.”

“What are sisters for if we can’t share our burdens and our joys? You’ve always been there for me. I’m grateful I could finally be there for you.” She presses against me and squeezes me again. “I’m sorry we couldn’t talk for longer, but I want you to FaceTime me and keep me posted.” She narrows her eyes at me, trying her best to appear stern. “And if you need a break, you can always come stay with us.”

“Yes, Mom!” I salute her. As if I would burden her more than I already have. She has her own busy life to get on with. There’s no way I’m going to add more to her plate. I kiss her cheek. “Now go. And drive carefully. Text me when you get home.”

She climbs into her car, reluctance in every move. When she’s seated, she looks up at me with raised brows. “Promise me, Sissy. Promise you’ll make him work for you. Promise you’ll call or text me when you need to talk to someone. Promise me,” she begs.

I swallow down the emotions rising like a storm and nod. “Promise.”

She grins as if I’ve given her the greatest gift, then closes her door and drives away. I watch her taillights disappear, then head to my car. My stomach free-falls at the thought of going home.

SESSION TWO

“Ah, young Nixon,” Harry states when he looks up from his desk.

I hold up two cups and step over the threshold. “Harry. I brought a peace offering.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d show after you stood me up last time.” The slight censure in his tone, and the way he’s seemingly looking down his nose at me from his seated position gives me pause as I hand over his drink and take a seat.

He climbs to his feet and sits in the overstuffed armchair facing me. He takes a moment to get comfortable and watches me over the top of his cup, steam rising in front of his face, fogging up his glasses.

“I’m sorry about that. Emergency at work.” I drink my too-hot coffee, scalding my tongue to cover my lie. Harry watches me, waiting me out. I carelessly lift and drop a single shoulder, and cross my ankle over my knee. “I also don’t have any progress to report.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “Explain.”

I trace the stitching on the wide arm of the chair instead of looking at Harry. “For the last three weeks, I’ve barely seen my wife. I cleared my schedule to concentrate on our marriage, and suddenly she’s super busy doing whatever it is she does. Staying late at work, wedding planning with our daughter, dinner with her sister, volunteering. It’s been endless.” I draw in a calming breath to tamp down the frustration I’ve felt over her lack of availability.

He makes a circle with his index finger and points at my face. “What’s going on there? You look like you’ve been told you have to make an alliance with the enemy.” That may be an easier task.

I huff and lean forward, balancing my elbows on my knees. Do I really have to say it again? “I cleared my schedule. I’ve been home every night and every weekend since she dropped the bomb that she wants a divorce and sent my world splintering into a million pieces.”

Harry nods. “That’s a good start. And being consistent is important to show Abbi that you mean business. So what’s the problem?”

I flop back into the thick cushions like a petulant teenager. “She’s been busy. I’ve hardly seen her. And the few times we’ve eaten a meal together, the silence between us is deafening. We’ve barely said a dozen words to each other, let alone had a decent, meaningful conversation. There’s a coldness between us that I’ve never felt before.”

“I hear you.”

“It’s been frustrating. I’m making the effort, and she’s making none. It’s like we’re strangers. Worse than strangers.” I stand and pace to the window, peering outside at the overcast sky. “I’ve been frustrated beyond belief. I keep messing up at work because I can’t focus, wondering if Abbi even wants to fix our marriage. She told me she was torn, but she agreed to give me a chance.”

Harry climbs to his feet and joins me at the window, talking to the glass instead of me. “So, let me get this straight. You’re ready to work on your marriage, and you don’t appreciate Abbi being unavailable or uninterested in doing the same.”

I nod. It’s not hard to understand what I was saying.

“You seem to be taking this personally. She’s an independent woman who has curated a life for herself that doesn’t include you because, more often than not, you weren’t around. Are you certain she’s avoiding you and not just living the life she built for herself?”