“Do you need something?”
Gina jumps, startled. “Sorry,” she says to Alice. “Didn’t see you there.”
Alice gives Gina a half-smile. She makes her way around the kitchen island. She opens a cabinet, takes out two glasses, and fills them with water. Her movements are fluid, graceful. Alice is exactly the sort of woman Gina knew Nick would marry: tall, lithe, impossible to please. A woman with impeccable taste and lightweight clothes that never seem to wrinkle. Beautiful in a way that is bloodless, flawless. Even her hair is perfect: like spun gold. If they were close, Gina would ask Alice to wear it down.
“How are you holding up?” Alice hands Gina a glass.
“I’ve been better,” Gina says. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”
“Have you considered that maybe he did it?”
Gina is stunned, though she shouldn’t be; Alice has always been blunt. Still, this is a delicate, private matter. Gina had thought that her sister-in-law would show some restraint.
“You think I’m speaking out of turn, but we’re family,” Alice says. “It’s my job to ask the tough questions.”
Is it? Gina hadn’t been aware. Her eyes scan the brightly lit kitchen. It’s modern (of course it is) with more eggshell-white walls, stone backsplashes, and sleek, stainless-steel appliances. She could never cook in here. It’s too smooth and sterile. Kitchens should be warm and welcoming. But then the space wouldn’t match the woman of the house.
“You never answered my question,” Gina says, taking a leaf out of Alice’s book of boldness. “If it had been Nick, would you believe him?”
“I’d believe the evidence.”
“There’s no evidence against Bobby.”
“What would you call Eva?”
“A person,” Gina says. Her throat is dry, despite the water. “People lie.”
“That’s right.” Alice’s tone is low. She almost seems… angry.
At least Alice doesn’t feel sorry for her. There is some measure of comfort in this. This morning, Gina had been running errands on Main Street when Missy Stevens had approached her. “I heard about Bobby, dear,” she had said, pulling Gina by the elbow. It wasn’t so much Missy’s words that had stung—she had praised Gina for standing by Bobby—but the unadulterated pity in her eyes.
Missy hasn’t been the only one, either.
Caroline had finally called from Australia: they had spent twenty minutes on the phone. Caroline had mostly listened, but when she did speak, it was to say how very sorry she was that Gina had to go through this. Her tone had been filled with sorrow, with lament. It’s been a very long time since Gina had been pitied. It’s one of the many wonderful things about being married to Bobby, about being a Dewar. The Dewars are highly regarded in Alma. Or they had been, anyway. Now it’s all changed, possibly for good. Gina shakes her head. She can’t let herself be consumed by defeat. Bobby has promised that this will be over soon.
“I should go,” Gina says, setting the glass on the kitchen island. “Thank you for having us.”
“Can I give you some advice?”
“I don’t think I can stop you.”
“Bobby isn’t perfect. And you don’t owe him anything. Remember that.”
Gina takes in the absurdity of Alice’s words. Bobby is her husband, her partner: she owes him everything. It isn’t one-sided—he owes her the same. And of course Bobby isn’t perfect. No one is. But theirs is a happy marriage. It’s true that the past two years have been difficult, with Calan’s troubles at school and with Souliers pressing for a sale, but it’s also true that they still love each other.
One year ago, Bobby had surprised Gina by getting down on one knee on their bedroom floor and asking her to marry him again. She’d giggled, assuming he was joking. But he’d been serious. I want to renew our vows. I know we’re going through a rough patch, he’d said, but I’ll be better from now on, I promise. I don’t want to lose you, Jib. I want our love to prevail. And then he recited his wedding vows to her, the same ones they’d exchanged fourteen years before. Since then, she’s noticed how Bobby has stepped up. He still works hard, but he’s been spending less time at the office and more time with them as a family. Or at least with Gina—his relationship with Calan is still hurting, but it’ll get better. Gina is sure of it.
Still, they’ve been married for fifteen years. That’s a long time. It’s only natural to have fallen into a routine. Gina would be the first to admit that they could use a little more romance. They should establish a regular date night. It’s been a while since their last one. Maybe they could even have dinner in the city—Bobby used to love that. But even without regular nights out, they’re still each other’s person. They will always be each other’s person. It’s a promise Bobby made years ago, back when Tish was threatening to disown him if he and Gina got married.
I choose you, he’d said, when Gina pointed out that he shouldn’t go against his mother’s wishes, even if it meant they wouldn’t be able to be together. Bobby wouldn’t hear of it. Even if it’s you and me against the world, I’ll still always choose you.
“You wouldn’t,” Gina says to Alice. It’s more of a realization than a comment.
Alice frowns.
“Forgive Nick. You wouldn’t.”
Gina expects Alice to be upset, but instead her lips curl into a knowing smile. “It’s interesting that you just said ‘forgive.’”
Gina feels an unexpected flare of irritation.
“Look, I get it,” Alice continues. “You think I don’t, but I do. You’re protecting your family. It’s a noble thing and that makes sense because you’re a noble person. So ask yourself this: what if she’s telling the truth? That would mean Bobby took advantage of her. That he was involved with her even though he’s her boss. Think about what kind of message you’re sending Calan by blindly believing your husband, no questions asked. What kind of man
