Page 84 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“I’m sorry about the T-shirt. Was it special?”

“Special?”

“You were so irritated after it ripped.”

He sighed. “It wasn’t the shirt. I got a call while you were using the bathroom.”

“A call?”

“Sweetheart.”

“Don’tsweetheartme, mister. Who called? Why were you so irritated?”

“Because I have to go away on a business trip next week.”

Uh… “That’s all? You went all broody man over a business trip?”

“With the Fielding Group,” he finished. And oh—wow. The Fielding Group? One of the largest lobbyists for anti-everyone and everything I believed in.

“Your father,” I said sullenly.

“Parker Holdings,” he replied, and his voice held an edge that it didn’t normally hold.

“Not for the election?”

“Believe it or not—no. My father took them on as clients last year. He did it without my knowledge.”

“What? Did you think I’d leave because of it?”

“You won’t?”

I jolted. “Are you serious? For better or worse, buddy. You legally America-married me.”

“Yes. But I neglected to tell you. It wasn’t malicious, but facts are facts.”

“Are you drinking the Kool-Aid?”

He frowned at me.

“You know, drink the Kool-Aid, join the hate-mongers…”

“I know what drink the Kool-Aid means. I’m just surprised that you’d even ask me that.”

“I wouldn’t have, but you’re acting weird.”

“That’s because I don’t want to do it. I don’t want any part of them, but the company I work for is contracted.”

“You could walk away,” I offered.

“Walk away? From my family’s company?”

“I’m just giving you options. I know you like finance, but honey, you don’tneedthat job. We’ll be fine.”

“Fuck,you’re right. And fair warning, we’re having pizza tonight. It’s definitely a pizza kind of night.”

My heart cheered. “Definitely,” I reply.

Later, while we lay in bed watching television, he rolled over onto his side, propping his head up on his hand, and waitedfor me to give him my full attention. I, of course, couldn’t roll. Collarbone fracture. But I turned my head.

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