“It’s not the time change.”
He stepped on the brake. “Then what is it?”
“It’s Julian, Ben. Something’s wrong with him.”
He pulled back into his space and shifted into Park so he could concentrate on the call instead of rush hour traffic. “Can you be more specific?”
“He won’t tell me what it is. But he’s not himself. He’s quiet, takes off on his own as if he needs time to himself, seems a bit listless and won’t really engage because he doesn’t want me to badger him.”
“Thendon’tbadger him,” he said. “Give him time.”
“That’s easier said than done when I’mthisworried.”
He’d known when he married a twin that he’d have to share more of his wife than he would have otherwise. Fortunately, he loved Julian—had never resented his presence or his close relationship with Sloane because Julian had been an incredible brother-in-law. “What do you think it could be?”
“I asked him if it was cancer.”
Ben gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Cancer! Oh, God. Tell me it’s not that. Does helooklike he has cancer?”
“No, he looks healthy to me—mostly. Maybe alittleless robust than usual. It’s more that he’s preoccupied and upset about something.”
“Would your parents know what it could be?”
“I doubt it. I’m not even going to ask them. I know he wouldn’t appreciate that. If he won’t tell me, he’s not telling anyone.”
“Good idea. I can just see your mother calling him immediately. Karen means well, but she won’t let him rest if she thinks he should tell her what’s going on.”
“Exactly.”
“Maybe it has to do with his work.”
“He claims all is going well there. Still, I’m hoping that’s it. Problems at work would be better than so many other things. We could help him with money, if he needs it.”
They didn’t have a lot of extra money themselves, but Ben would help Julian, no question. “He’s there in Italy with you. He’ll talk to you when he’s ready.”
“So I need to calm down and wait?”
“That’s what I’d do.”
“Becauseyouare a calm person. I am not. I’m high-strung and totally freaked out right now.”
He chuckled. “I love you just the way you are.”
“I wish you were here, Ben. I always feel better when you’re around.”
“I wish the same thing.”
“Come over for the last week,” she suggested once again. “What the hell. It’s Italy.”
“I can’t, and you know it. We already used my vacation days when we went to Niagara Falls for our anniversary six months ago.”
“I hate that you’re so tied down.”
“The curse of working for someone else.”
“Actually, I put in as many hours—or more—than you do,” she pointed out.
And he could let his work go once he left it each night. So there was that. “Pros and cons.”
