Unexpectedly, Milo - Matthew Dicks [22]
“I didn’t want him to move out,” Christine said, a razorlike quality to her voice. “I didn’t expect him to take furniture and pillows and canned goods, for Christ’s sake. I just wanted a week or two apart, to think things over.”
“Christine,” Milo said. “I didn’t know that. I really didn’t. When you asked for space, I thought you were talking about separation. I really did.”
“But when I told you what I really wanted, you moved out anyway. Not only that, but you waited until I was in Chicago to move out. You couldn’t have waited until I came home?”
Milo knew that if they had been alone and she had been angry enough, Christine might have thrown the word coward into the last statement, and perhaps justifiably so.
“I thought it would be easier on you if I moved out while you were gone. But I told you I was going.”
“And it was easier on you too, Milo?” Teagan suggested.
“Yes,” Milo said, once again admiring the doc’s sense of timing. “It was easier on me too. You knew I was moving out. I just didn’t want to have to do it under your nose.”
“But why did you move at all? After I asked you to stay, you still left. Why?”
“Look, Christine. It took me three months to come to terms with it, but in the end, I thought that it would good for us. I know you didn’t mean to, but you convinced me that time apart would be for the best.”
“So you went out and got a lease without even telling me? Without even consulting me?”
“I know it sounds stupid now, but I thought it would make you happy. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you.”
“In fairness, Christine,” Dr. Teagan added, “when a spouse suggests for a couple to spend some time apart, they aren’t typically referring to a week or two in a hotel or at a friend’s house. They are usually referring to a trial separation of some kind. I know it hurt you that Milo moved out, and I think that Milo made a mistake in not consulting you in the process, but I don’t think he intended on hurting your feelings. In his mind, he was doing what was best for both of you. And to be honest, it might end up helping your relationship a great deal. Can you see that?”
The words came forth from Dr. Teagan like liquid sugar. They weren’t said in judgment or condemnation, but rather like the cooing whisper of a mother’s voice in a baby’s ear. At least that’s how they sounded to Milo. But he was sure that they were not being received as well by Christine.
“So you think this separation is a good idea?” Christine asked, turning her anger on the doctor.
“It may be,” Teagan said, his casual tone unwavering. “It might give the two of you a chance to appreciate what you may have forgotten. It could give you a chance to become acquainted with each other all over again.”
“What do you suggest?” Milo asked, trying to cut off any more potentially charged remarks from Christine. He knew that his wife’s temper was like a freight train: slow, nearly impossible to get started, but thundering and unstoppable if given ample momentum.
“I think the two of you should try to get to know each other again. Go out on some dates. See how that feels. It’s obvious that we have some work to do here as well. Communication seems to have broken down between the two of you, and we may be able to do some of that work here. But I think it’s important that the two of you begin reconnecting. And maybe that process can start with dinner and a movie. Or maybe just a coffee. What do you think?”
Milo looked back to Christine, hoping for some cue. The idea seemed a little ridiculous, but if Christine approved, he would as well. After a moment, Christine sighed and said, “We can give it a try,” and Milo agreed. They set a time to reconvene with the doctor in a week and committed to at least one date before that time.
Milo felt that the meeting had gone well, but he knew that Christine would feel otherwise.
As they exited the building together into the uncommonly bright sunshine, Christine turned to Milo and said, “That went well for you, didn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Milo lied.