Tymber Dalton by Out of the Darkness

acting lately.”
    He nodded. “I know.”
    She gave him a squeeze and stepped back, searching his eyes. “Will you please consider going to see a counselor?”
    “I’ll think about it.”
     
    * * * *
     
    The rest of Friday went better. Steve still spent most of the day in his study, but he came out for lunch without being asked, and he knocked off early to take her out to dinner. He actually showed some interest in her, but nature had a twisted sense of humor. The migraine she felt threatening most of the afternoon lifted, and she saw when they returned from dinner that her period had started. They settled for curling up on the couch in front of the TV.
    So close , she thought. At least he made the effort.
    Sami spent most of Saturday on the couch in front of the TV with her laptop. She had no energy or desire to do anything. Steve offered to make her lunch before retreating to his lair.
    I need to give this some time, she thought.
    As if reading her thoughts, Matt called.
    “You okay down there?”
    “That’s spooky.”
    “What?”
    “I was just thinking about you.”
    He fell quiet for a moment. “Is that good or bad?”
    “Good. How’s my baby?”
    “I’m assuming you mean Pog?”
    She smiled, trying to strangle wistful memories into submission. “Of course.”
    “You owe me a new pair of sneakers and a few tennis balls. Other than that, we’re good.”
    “Oh, no! I’m sorry.”
    He laughed. “Relax—the balls were old, and so were the sneaks. I gave them to him to play with.”
    “Has he been a good boy?”
    “Yeah, I’m going to miss having him around. How’s Boy Genius?”
    “In his lair.”
    Matt paused. Sami wasn’t sure she still had the connection until he spoke. “How are you doing?”
    “I’m okay, just having a quiet day today.”
    “That’s not what I mean.”
    She gripped the phone tightly. It never failed that when she needed him most, Matt was always there. “I’m…hanging in there.” She lowered her voice. “He’s not as bad as he was, but I don’t know if that’s because he’s really trying or because I told him I’d give him one last chance before I file for divorce. We got into it again yesterday morning. I suggested counseling again. This time he didn’t take my head off, but he hasn’t made an effort to call anyone.”
    “You’re not going to call?”
    “No. I can’t do this for him. I’ve done everything for nearly seven years now. I can’t change him—he has to want to change.”
    They steered the conversation to work, Matt making suggestions about the latest manuscript she’d sent him. They talked a few minutes more, and she was ready to hang up when he stopped her.
    “Sam, be careful. Okay?”
    “Why?”
    “I…I just want you to be careful. Promise?”
    “I promise.”
    She stared at the phone. What was that about?
     
    * * * *
     
    Sami went to bed early, leaving Steve undisturbed in his study. She awoke to an eerily quiet house and the new bedside clock read 12:21.
    He’s probably still working.
    Sami changed positions and tried to sleep despite her irritation. It would be nice to actually sleep in bed with her husband once in a while.
    I guess I should be used to it by now.
    She heard a noise downstairs. Like a door in the kitchen, but it wasn’t the outside door.
    Basement? What would he be doing down there at this hour?
    She heard his footsteps down the hall, and then his study door shut again. Still working.
    Her conversation with Matt replayed in her mind as she sank from consciousness. Be careful. What had he meant?
    Sami woke at six and found Steve asleep next to her. What time had he come up? She arose without waking him and took a shower in the guest bath.
    I shouldn’t complain. At least he works at home and makes good money doing something he loves.
    She’d already poured her second cup of coffee when he crawled downstairs over an hour later.
    He’s hungover, she immediately thought, then caught herself.
    That couldn’t