Page 28 of Scarlett

That evening Scarlett did not try to make conversation and she didn’t eat anything off her plate. As soon as he finished eating, she took up the plates and went to the kitchen.

“Thank you,” Emmett said.

She didn’t reply.

He’d allowed Josiah to spend the night in the clinic and she’d asked him to take food there.

After what seemed longer than necessary to clean up, Emmett went to the kitchen doorway and peered in.

Scarlett stood looking out the window, her back to him. Poised as usual, she was almost regal in her stance. Then her head fell forward and she released a long sigh.

Preferring she didn’t know he’d been watching, Emmett returned to the front room and lifted the book he was reading.

When she eventually came to where he was, she stopped and looked down at him. “Good night.”

He didn’t reply, as she didn’t wait for it, but instead walked on past toward their bedroom.

And so the next week became more of the same routine. They ate in silence. Several times he attempted to say something, but it felt hollow. The situation was what he’d wished for after all.

Or was it?