lacked any real interest when I asked, “So what did you do today?”
He stared into his paper for a few more seconds before casually laying it on the table and giving me his full attention.
“I went shopping.”
The room grew silent and it became apparent that in this game, he expected me to drag each word from him in order to build suspense.
“Shopping… for…” Throwing my hands in the air and shaking my head, I added, “…golf clubs?”
Either my attempt at sarcasm went unnoticed or his mood was too good for me to ruin.
“I got you a little present—call it my wedding gift to you.”
I smiled and wondered if my smile looked as phony as it felt. I should have been beside myself with happiness but instead, I was mad at Brian for ruining the opportunity to end the relationship tonight.
“You didn’t have to do that… I didn’t even get you anything yet.”
His degree of excitement was something I usually only witnessed when he won a big case. He would brag about how he worked the jury and what strategies he used until long after I stopped listening.
“Don’t worry about that, you can pick something up later. C’mon, I want to give you yours now.”
As he jerked me up by the hand, I said, “Shouldn’t you wait until the wedding to give it to me?”
“No, I want you to have it now. I can’t wait for you to see it!”
He led me through the house and out the front door quickly. I couldn’t help but think that his actions were unbearable. Definitely the able word of the day. Just when I decide that his insensitivity is more than I can handle and think I deserve better for the rest of my life, he finds kindness. When I work up the courage to tell him what I’m feeling, he gives me a present. I feel like I’m standing with a full score card and still don’t know who’s winning.
We walked down the front steps and made a left on the sidewalk. His steps were brisk as he stared straight ahead.
As we rounded the corner at the end of the block, I said, “Brian, where are you taking…” Following the invisible line between his finger and the object it pointed to, I could hardly speak.
“That… that’s my present?”
His gaze fixed on the object sitting in front of us, he said, “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
I stood paralyzed. I was emotionless and momentarily speechless. When words finally came, I knew they weren’t the ones he wanted to hear.
“Brian, that must have cost you a fortune… you really shouldn’t have.”
Directing his attention toward me for the first time since turning the corner, he tightened the grip on my hand and looked genuinely confused when he said, “How about, ‘It’s beautiful’, or ‘Thank you’, or ‘I really like it’… Meg, forgive me for assuming, but I thought you’d be just a little happy when you saw it? What’s up?”
His words reprimanded the spoiled brat that lived inside of me. I hung my head, ashamed of my own selfish behavior. I thanked him for an expensive and thoughtful gift with indifference and a lack of enthusiasm. His gift only helped to confuse me further in my quandary over our relationship and I found myself upset with him for his lousy sense of timing.
Rubbing his arm with my free hand, I tried to sound sincere as I spoke, “I’m sorry, Brian. You just caught me off guard… I wasn’t expecting anything like this.” Looking toward the car, I added, “It is beautiful… thank you.”
His eyes were questioning mine, undecided whether I was telling the truth or if there was more to my lack of enthusiasm.
Trying to add a little bounce to the steps I took in the direction of the car, I eagerly asked, “Can I take it for a drive?” in an attempt to put his doubts to rest.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two keys hanging from a shiny ring. Dangling them between his fingers, he winked and said, “Drive on!”
I drove from Upper Darby, through Unionville and
He stared into his paper for a few more seconds before casually laying it on the table and giving me his full attention.
“I went shopping.”
The room grew silent and it became apparent that in this game, he expected me to drag each word from him in order to build suspense.
“Shopping… for…” Throwing my hands in the air and shaking my head, I added, “…golf clubs?”
Either my attempt at sarcasm went unnoticed or his mood was too good for me to ruin.
“I got you a little present—call it my wedding gift to you.”
I smiled and wondered if my smile looked as phony as it felt. I should have been beside myself with happiness but instead, I was mad at Brian for ruining the opportunity to end the relationship tonight.
“You didn’t have to do that… I didn’t even get you anything yet.”
His degree of excitement was something I usually only witnessed when he won a big case. He would brag about how he worked the jury and what strategies he used until long after I stopped listening.
“Don’t worry about that, you can pick something up later. C’mon, I want to give you yours now.”
As he jerked me up by the hand, I said, “Shouldn’t you wait until the wedding to give it to me?”
“No, I want you to have it now. I can’t wait for you to see it!”
He led me through the house and out the front door quickly. I couldn’t help but think that his actions were unbearable. Definitely the able word of the day. Just when I decide that his insensitivity is more than I can handle and think I deserve better for the rest of my life, he finds kindness. When I work up the courage to tell him what I’m feeling, he gives me a present. I feel like I’m standing with a full score card and still don’t know who’s winning.
We walked down the front steps and made a left on the sidewalk. His steps were brisk as he stared straight ahead.
As we rounded the corner at the end of the block, I said, “Brian, where are you taking…” Following the invisible line between his finger and the object it pointed to, I could hardly speak.
“That… that’s my present?”
His gaze fixed on the object sitting in front of us, he said, “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
I stood paralyzed. I was emotionless and momentarily speechless. When words finally came, I knew they weren’t the ones he wanted to hear.
“Brian, that must have cost you a fortune… you really shouldn’t have.”
Directing his attention toward me for the first time since turning the corner, he tightened the grip on my hand and looked genuinely confused when he said, “How about, ‘It’s beautiful’, or ‘Thank you’, or ‘I really like it’… Meg, forgive me for assuming, but I thought you’d be just a little happy when you saw it? What’s up?”
His words reprimanded the spoiled brat that lived inside of me. I hung my head, ashamed of my own selfish behavior. I thanked him for an expensive and thoughtful gift with indifference and a lack of enthusiasm. His gift only helped to confuse me further in my quandary over our relationship and I found myself upset with him for his lousy sense of timing.
Rubbing his arm with my free hand, I tried to sound sincere as I spoke, “I’m sorry, Brian. You just caught me off guard… I wasn’t expecting anything like this.” Looking toward the car, I added, “It is beautiful… thank you.”
His eyes were questioning mine, undecided whether I was telling the truth or if there was more to my lack of enthusiasm.
Trying to add a little bounce to the steps I took in the direction of the car, I eagerly asked, “Can I take it for a drive?” in an attempt to put his doubts to rest.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two keys hanging from a shiny ring. Dangling them between his fingers, he winked and said, “Drive on!”
I drove from Upper Darby, through Unionville and
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