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“I’m not the one who shut down rational communication” Gabriel sounded imperious

“Listen to yourself” Richard’s tone turned scolding “Julia isn’t irrational She’s hurt When someone hurts you, it’s rational to withdraw Especially considering her history”

Gabriel grimaced “I didn’t mean to hurt her”

“I’ht fairly Learning how to argue with a spouse is an art, not a science It took your ure it out But once we did, we rarely argued And e did, it wasn’t ugly or hurtful If you can argue with Julia while still convincing her that you love her and that she’s ie” Richard finished his wine and placed the glass on the table

“Take it frohter When a wo herself My advice is to be gentle with your wife and coax her out of that locked roohts on the couch”

It was after ht by the tione to bed She’d heard their footsteps in the hall

She crept to the door of the study and opened it Light shone from underneath the closed door to the

She conte to hirabbed the bottle of bubble bath she’d spirited away from their bathroouest bathrooet her troubles

A half hour later, Julia reentered the study, shutting the door behind her She felt refreshed but only inally more relaxed Since Gabriel seemed determined to keep his distance, she’d sleep on the couch

As she lay under the old wool blanket they’d first shared so ht of their hoht of their first few e and how happy they’d been

She wanted to be a Dante specialist It was a long road that would require sacrifice, hard work, and huht herself above criticis needed i toShe needed hie her, to cheer her on She didn’t need hih

Why can’t he see that I need his support?

As her sadness swelled, she wondered why he hadn’t co with his fa about old tiiven to Rachel about their conflict She wondered why she was lying alone in the dark, close to tears, and he seemed perfectly content to leave her to it

Just then, she heard a door open down the hall She heard Gabriel’s quick, determined steps They stopped outside her door

She sat up, holding her breath A h the crack beneath the door

O gods of fighting needs, please make hih and a thuainst the door Then she saw a shadow pass across the light as the footsteps retreated

Julia tightened into a ball but did not cry

Chapter Four

Very early the next

She jerked awake, the sound of the Police’s “Message in a Bottle” reverberating around the rooainst the desk But she didn’t answer