“So why were you making faces at me?”
“Honestly, I thought you were trying to fart quietly.”
“For ffffudge sake,” I catch myself, looking at Mary still sleeping soundly on my shoulder, not conscious to pick up on my near miss swearing. “Even Lisa knew we were having a silent conversation.”
“Maybe that’s because Lisa is your wife and you two are so in tune with each other.”
“Youand I should be that in tune with each other,” I snap. Pinching the bridge of my nose with my free hand, I take a calming breath. “So why did you come out here?”
“To get Nel a drink.” When I slump slightly, he looks at me with sympathy. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, man. Something’s up with Lisa, she’s been quiet, and I know something’s on her mind, but I don’t know what it is.”
“Have you asked her?” he asks, like it’s the simple solution.
“What if she’s mad at me and I ask her what’s wrong then she gets even more mad because I should know what I’ve done wrong?”
His eyes blow wide as he shakes his head. “You’ve been married for over ten years, Harry. How do you not know how to communicate with your wife?”
I scrub my palm down my face, already feeling tired for the next four days. The thing is, I was never worried about saying the wrong thing around Lisa, we’ve always spoken freely but I always kind of thought I was like that with everyone. Then last year I found out that I’ve spent pretty much my whole life saying the wrong things to my sister. Jokes I thought she was laughing with me on were actually hurting her and driving a wedge between us. Comments Imade to her out of love or concern were taken as judgement and getting in my head about what other people might think about her career as a boudoir photographer, meant she thought I was ashamed of her.
All of this happening in the wake of our parents’ deaths just made it all the more emotional. I went from worrying she was pulling away from me for reasons I didn’t understand, to realising I had unwittingly been pushing her away and it’s made me paranoid about my relationships with the people I’m closest to.
Jake is usually the first to tell me if I’m being a dick, so I’m not so worried about him. Although, I have checked what I’ve thought about saying to him a couple times over the last twelve months when I wouldn’t have before. Now I’m scared of finding out that Lisa and I don’t have the relationship I thought we did, just like I did with Nel. “I just don’t want to say the wrong thing, man.”
“Maybe you should talk to her telepathically,” he suggests, biting on the inside of both cheeks to tamper his smile.
“I hate you.”
He blows me a kiss and winks, making my eyes roll. “Listen, you’re going to have to talk to Lisa. Do you really not know if you’ve done something wrong?”
“I don’t think I have.” I frown trying to think. Lisa isn’t one to let things fester, if I’ve pissed her off, she’ll tell me, but what if this time she hasn’t?
“Mate, I can see the cogs working in your brain from here. Just talk to your wife.”
Fucking Jake. What does he know?
CHAPTER THREE
“Why would you two have a Christmas themed wedding?”
LISA
Lasagne.Cooked.
Garlic bread.On the table.
Salad.Dressed and on the table.
Table.Laid.
Wine.Breathing.
Homemade ice cream.Ready in the freezer.
Toppings.In serving bowls and ready to be brought out.
Waffles for breakfast tomorrow.Batter made and in the fridge.
