The truth, perhaps, would hurt her, but then does anyone have the right to deny another the truth? As Rob always points out, whenever they discuss it, the truth never did them any harm, in fact if anything it’s the thing that saved their marriage.
The truth. The truth about everything. Repeated over and over for thirty years until none of it had the power to shock or to cause any more pain.
But as Dawn always counters, the fact that it worked for them doesn’t mean it works that way for everyone.
And then it’s five past three and Tom has arrived and still they haven’t decided.
* * *
They chat with their grandson until almost four.
Tom, always fresh-faced and optimistic, reminds Dawn so much of young Rob that every time she sees him she has her doubts. But then a quick request to Hubble will pull up photos of Billy’s daughter Julianne and it would be hard for her to look more like Lucy.
Once they’ve caught up on family news and discussed jugglers, Alek’s upcoming retirement and Rob’s dodgy shoulder… Once they’ve talked about butterflies, the ethics of lab-grown fish and Tom’s love life, he takes off his Hubble wristband and lays it on the table between them.
‘That’s to record the conversation, right?’ Dawn asks.
‘Yeah. It types it for me too and sends it to my college account.’
‘Of course it does,’ Dawn says. ‘So clever.’
‘So, do you want me to remind you what this is all about before we start?’ Tom asks.
‘No,’ Dawn says. ‘I remember.’
‘Actually, I do,’ Rob says. ‘If that’s OK.’
‘Of course,’ Tom says. ‘So it’s a group project, recording tipping-point events in various long-term relationships, some successful and others not – we interview the divorced ones separately of course. Then we’re going to use Artificial Intelligence to try to identify key events that change the course of a long-term relationship. It’s as much about testing the AI as the relationship stuff really, but anyway.’
‘OK?’ Dawn asks, glancing at Rob. ‘Ready?’
‘Yeah, I understood at least the first three words,’ Rob says.
‘It’s—’ Tom starts.
‘Just ignore him,’ Dawn tells Tom. ‘He understands perfectly. It’s fine.’
‘But… to be clear…’ Rob says solemnly. ‘Are you assuming ours has been asuccessfulmarriage?’
‘Oh,’ Tom says. ‘Yes, I kind ofwasassuming that.’
‘That’s maybe a bit of a leap of faith,’ Dawn says, grimacing.
‘Indeed,’ Rob says, looking dour.
Tom’s smile starts to fade. ‘Oh,’ he says, looking crestfallen. ‘OK. It’s just that Mum said—’
Only then do Rob and Dawn allow themselves to crack smiles.
‘You two!’ Tom says. ‘You’re terrible.’
‘We are,’ Dawn agrees.
‘We’ve always liked a joke,’ Rob says, nudging Dawn. ‘Haven’t we, Dawney?’
‘You should studythat,’ Dawn says. ‘That’s what makes a marriage work. A sense of humour.’
‘She’s right,’ Rob says.
