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friend?’’
She puts her hands on her hips.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did stay with a friend,’’ she says. "Man or
woman?’’
Her eyes get hard on me. She takes a step forward. "You don’t care if I’m
home with the kids night after night,’’ she says. "But if I go away for one
night, all of a sudden you have to know where I’ve been, what I’ve done.’’
"I just feel you owe me some explanation,’’ I say. "How many times have
you been late, or out of town, or who knows where?’’ she asks.
"But that’s business,’’ I say. "And I always tell you where I’ve been if you
ask. Now I’m asking.’’
"There’s nothing to tell,’’ she says. "All that happened was I went out with
Jane.’’
"Jane?’’ It takes me a minute to remember her. "You mean your friend from
where we used to live? You drove all the way back there?’’
"I just had to talk to someone,’’ she says. "By the time we’d finished talking,
I’d had too much to drink to drive home. Anyway, I knew the kids were okay
until morning. So I just stayed at Jane’s.’’
"Okay, but why? How did this come over you all of a sudden?’’ I ask her.
"Come over me? All of a sudden? Alex, you go off and leave me night after
night. It’s no wonder that I’m lonely. Nothing suddenly came over me. Ever
since you got into management, your career has come first and everyone else
takes whatever is left.’’
"Julie, I’ve just tried to make a good living for you and the kids,’’ I tell her.
"Is that all? Then why do you keep taking the promotions?’’ "What am I
supposed to do, turn them down?’’ She doesn’t answer.
"Look, I put in the hours because I have to, not because I want to,’’ I tell her.
She still doesn’t say anything.
"All right, look: I promise I’ll make more time for you and the kids,’’ I say.
"Honest, I’ll spend more time at home.’’ "Al, it’s not going to work. Even
when you’re home, you’re at the office. Sometimes I’ve seen the kids tell you
something two or three times before you hear them.’’
"It won’t be like that when I get out of the jam I’m in right now,’’ I say.
"Do you hear what you’re saying? ‘When I get out of the jam I’m in right
now.’ Do you think it’s going to change? You’ve said all that before, Al. Do
you know how many times we’ve been over this?’’
"Okay, you’re right. We have been over it a lot of times. But, right now,
there’s nothing I can do,’’ I say.
She looks up at the sky and says, "Your job has always been on the line.
Always. So if you’re such a marginal employee, why do they keep giving you
promotions and more money?’’ I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"How do I make you understand this,’’ I say. "I’m not up for another
promotion or pay raise this time. This time it’s different.
Julie, you have no idea what kind of problems I’ve got at the plant.’’
"And you have no idea what it’s like here at home,’’ she says. I say, "Okay,
look, I’d like to spend more time at home, but the problem is getting the
time.’’
"I don’t need all your time,’’ she says. "But I do need some of it, and so do
the kids.’’
"I know that. But to save this plant, I’m going to have to give it all I’ve got
for the next couple of months.’’
"Couldn’t you at least come home for dinner most of the time?’’ she asks.
"The evenings are when I miss you the most. All of us do. It’s empty around
here without you, even with the kids for company.’’
"Nice to know I’m wanted. But sometimes I even need the evenings. I just
don’t have enough time during the day to get to things like paperwork,’’ I
say.
"Why don’t you bring the paperwork home,’’ she suggests.
"Do it here. If you did that, at least we could see you. And maybe I could
even help you with some of it.’’
I lean back. "I don’t know if I’ll be able to concentrate, but . . . okay, let’s try
it.’’
She smiles. "You mean it?’’
"Sure, if it doesn’t work, we can talk about it,’’ I say. "Deal?’’ "Deal,’’ she
says.
I lean toward her and ask, "Want to seal it with a handshake or a kiss?’’
She comes around the table and sits on my lap and kisses me. "You know, I
sure missed you last night,’’ I tell her. "Did you?’’ she says. "I really missed
you too. I had no idea singles bars could be so depressing.’’
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