“I think it’s important to consider. Maybe a homeschool pod where the moms take turns with a group of kids. That way the kids still get some socializing,” Leigh said.
“Were you going to talk to me about this?” Nathan asked.
“At some point,” Leigh said, her back still to him. “Our kid is an infant, so we have time.”
“You know, some women want to go back to work,” Nathan said.
Leigh whipped around to face him finally. “Is this a commentary on my choice to stay home?”
“Not at all,” he said, blithe and calm.
But of course that had to be exactly what it was.
“Nathan wants me to get back to my career,” Leigh said to Gwen.
“I just think you would be happier if you had something to focus on besides just Belle,” he said.
“What makes you think I’m not happy focusing entirely on Belle?” she asked him. “I just said I want to homeschool her.”
He shrugged. “You seem to tell me often that you’re not happy.”
Gwen distracted herself with June, making silly faces at her to get her to smile. She needed something to look at besides these bickering married people.
“Oh, you misunderstood,” Leigh said. “I’m not happy withyou.”
Nathan didn’t sound the least bit alarmed. Instead, he seemed inexplicably bored. He pushed his giant body up from the ground and brushed crumbs from his pants.
“I’m going to head back to the office.”
He rewrapped the remaining half of his sandwich, tucked it under his arm, and stooped to lift Belle from the grass. He gave her a kiss on her cheek before handing her off to Leigh, who smothered Belle’s face with her own kisses.
“I’ll pick up Thai for dinner,” he said to Leigh. Then, “Bye, Gwen.”
Gwen raised her hand in a wave, but he had turned around and stomped off before she managed to say anything.
Leigh turned her attention back to her sandwich, taking rapid-fire bites.
“Is that how you always are with each other?” Gwen asked.
Leigh looked up. “Hmm?”
“That fight,” Gwen said.
“Oh, that wasn’t a fight. That was just ... sparring.”
“Sparring?”
“It’s just what we do.”
Gwen wasn’t naive. She knew all couples had their things. Some people liked whips and chains. Gwen wouldn’t be surprised if Leigh was one of those people.
Gwen watched Leigh consume her sandwich in just a couple of minutes. She was like an animal, wild and unashamed. Gwen’s appetite was still gone.
Leigh, ignoring how little Gwen had eaten, said with enthusiasm, “Is this not the best sandwich you’ve ever had?”
They walked back to Leigh’s place, and Gwen gathered her things to leave.
“See you tomorrow?” Leigh said.
