He circled behind the bar, pulled a Baccarat crystal glass off the shelf, and selected a bottle of bourbon. “A shopping trip to Coos Bay?”
“No.”
After pouring himself a drink, he eyed her. “You aren’t very talkative today.”
Her respiration short-circuited, but she pressed on. “I do have something to say.”
“Can it wait? It was crazy at the mill this morning. The collar on one of the circle blades gave us fits, and that’s bad news for the pending Lawson order. Aaron and I were able to jury-rig it, but I need to get an equipment rep on the phone.” He started to walk toward his home office. “The month-end productivity report for May came in too, so I want to—”
“No. It can’t wait.”
He halted. Swung around. Gave her an annoyed once-over. “What’s with you today? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Her legs began to shake.
Stay the course,Diane. You can do this.
She clenched her fingers at her sides. “You’re always busy.”
“Which is why you can buy designer clothes, go to spas, travel to Europe, and live in a place like this.” He waved his hand over the living room with its vaulted ceiling, gleaming hardwood floors, abstract paintings, and grand piano on a raised dais in one corner.
The room could be featured in a designer showcase—and was just as soulless.
“There are other things more important.”
Grooves bracketed his mouth. “Are you going to badger me again about my priorities?”
“No.” Her attempts to initiate those conversations had always led to a dead end. “I’m leaving.”
Several seconds ticked by as he regarded her through slitted eyes, only the faint drone of a passing plane traveling to parts unknown breaking the taut silence. “Are you taking a trip?” A thread of caution wove through his question.
“No.” She swallowed. “I’m leaving you, Martin.”
After a moment he took a long swallow of his drink, the sudden tremor in his hand visible even from a distance.
Was that rare crack in the stoic, tough front he presented to the world due to her news or the problems at work?
Impossible to know anymore.
Back in the days when their marriage had been a true partnership, her declaration would have devastated him.
Now, the motions of their marriage had become as rote to him as reviewing his monthly productivity reports. She was just one more obligation to satisfy with a liberal application of money.
Or that’s how it felt, anyway.
Pressure built in her throat, and she gritted her teeth.
No.
She wasnotgoing to cry. She’d shed too many tears as it was since the man she’d fallen in love with became obsessed with provingto the world that he was successful at the expense of everything that truly mattered.
Including their marriage and their son.
Martin may have met all their material needs, but the emotional ones had gone untended for far too long.
“Are you saying you want a divorce?” Disbelief raised his pitch a hair.
“Not yet.” She swallowed past the quiver in her voice. “But I need some space.”
