Neither of us touch the food.
“Jesus. You weren’t kidding,” I say.
She puts her head in her hands.
“I know. Sometimes he’s completely sweet and normal, and then sometimes he’s… this.”
“Do you think it’s still from all the Covid shit?”
“I honestly don’t know. I mean, he has a lot of young clients who’ve lost people. So I think that’s why he snapped at Ry. Not that it excuses it.”
“No. That was out of control.”
“And obviously the isolation and fear and all of that take a toll,” she goes on wearily. “His doctor put him on Prozac but…” She trails off. “Obviously it’s not working.”
I reach across the table and take her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s really beginning to drain me, Molls. He’s just so erratic. Drinkssomuch.” She starts to tear up. “I don’t know how much longer I can take this. He can be so mean.”
I walk around the table and wrap my arms around her.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” I murmur.
“I keep hoping it will get better.” Her voice breaks. “I love him so much, you know? And I know he’s in pain—I canseeit—but he’s not bringing it to me. He’s turning away from me. And I don’t know if it’s to protect me or if he just can’t bear to talk about it, but I feel like I’m losing him.”
“Have you guys thought about therapy?”
“He won’t go. With me or alone.” She wipes away a tear and sniffles. “AndI feel awful complaining about my marriage when so many terrible things are happening to other people. But, we’re finally starting IVF next month and I’m worried that—”
Just then Rob reappears.
“Food! Hell yeah!” he says, as though he doesn’t notice I’m holding his crying wife.
I glare at him, which must provoke some level of compunction because he says, “You all right, babe?”
“You need to apologize to Ryland and Alyssa,” Dezzie says.
“Roger, dodger.” He plops back down in his seat and tears into his steak.
I squeeze Dez and return to my chair. The sage and butter sauce on my ravioli has already started to congeal.
Alyssa and Ry return, hand in hand.
“Hey, I’m sorry,” Rob says to them immediately. “I was totally out of line.”
“Yes, you were,” Ryland says, in an icy tone that makes it clear he doesn’t want to discuss it.
We finish the meal awkwardly. I try to smooth over the tension by chatting about Marian’s recent wedding to her baseball player (an intimate family-only ceremony featured inPeoplemagazine) and showing off pictures of Gloria and Emily’s twins (who are so adorable they’ve made me wonder ifIshould have a kid).
As soon as we’ve paid the check, Dezzie tells Rob they should get back to her parents’ house before they fall asleep. Alyssa, Ryland, and I decide to take a walk and get ice cream.
“I’m worried about Dez,” I say as soon as she and Rob are out of earshot. “She started crying while you guys were gone.”
“Poor thing,” Alyssa says. “What in the world is going on with Rob?”
“Could have strangled that fucker,” Ryland mutters.
Alyssa squeezes his arm.
