The aroma of roasted chicken and steamed veget

surface of my plate, chasing a veg

table, enjoying her meal, cuttin

ike it hurts badly, yet this woman remained as calm as a new bride. She pl

pened the pit

t take it

d, my voice brea

up at me

nything wrong?" she asked

ned sli

ing something

brief I wondered if I imagined it-before she se

t?" she asked softly, lo

unease that had been building inside me sinc

disrespected you and deserved it," she said,

this era will say s

dry, but I force

. Of course, it's offensive

etting out a soft sigh that onl

ffend you," she said gentl

d slightly, her ey

ely-on my self-care, my sexual he

ustration. "You're my wife. That's supposed to be something we

stead, she just conti

matter? You've been getting what you need else

mach c

're married. We have responsibilities to each other. Why now? Why, after a

answer im

r eyes dropped to her plate, toying with her food. When she fin

d, Charles," s

roz

ickened as her words sank in. I ope

supposed to

smile gr

at reason

hten, my mind scramb

with... us? If you can use

cut m

sweet sister-i

lowed t

ounger sister! So wh

rrupted

shocking for you too. We're both still traumatized. But we'll get through it-all

ched over to my plate, spearing a piece o

d playfully. "L

her, my mi

, her smile only deepeni

uth, letting her place the

She kept watching me, her gaze focused on

on her palm, her elbow on the table

ant to get rid of me so y

ement thr

hicken caught in my throat like it wa

lapped the table, tryi

er was right the

toward it, but I knoc

sped, my voice

r...

ing on her hand, watching me with

tch trying

rring as I pointed to the glass

ean

a glass of wate

down, the cool water finally

y breath, I loo

ng me, a faint smile

n by that questi

heart pound

again," s

k are you tal

roa

brushing a strand o

ched last night. So I decided to pran

staring

ou're jokin

up her fork and cutt

riously, honey. It's

id you s

hou