“Did I do something to upset her?” Landon’s voice carried to me.
My heart fell into my stomach. He thought he’d done something?
Of course he thinks he’s done something. You’ve been giving him the cold shoulder all day. What’s he supposed to think?
I couldn’t answer myself, but I felt horrible that I’d made him feel bad. He’d been nothing but great, and here I’d been…
I had to do something to erase the hurt I’d heard in his voice. What, I didn’t know, but I had to at least let him know that he was good. Great, even. Perfect, I thought.
Okay, maybe I couldn’t let him know that. But I could at least ease the discomfort I’d made him feel.
I pivoted on my heel but came up short when Ken walked up to me.
“There you are, my dear. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“To me?” I squeaked.
“Yes.” He took my elbow and gently guided me away from the rocky shore to a large piece of driftwood. He sat and patted the spot next to him.
But, Landon…I was…
I looked down into Ken’s concerned face, lines framing his warm eyes.
Oh, fine. I plopped beside him.
He picked up my hand and patted the top in a fatherly gesture. “I couldn’t help but notice you and Landon today,” he started.
Him too?!? Had everyone witnessed my little crush?
Wait. This was good. This was what we wanted. Ken Abrams was supposed to think Landon and I were married, ergo it was a good thing if he thought I had feeling for my husband.
He tilted his head and paused, his forehead wrinkling as he studied me with compassion. Almost as if…as if…
Nope. I had nothin’.
“Marriage isn’t easy, is it? There are ups and downs. The ups…” He shook his head as he grinned. “They can make us feel like we’re soaring, can’t they? But the downs…well…” He let me fill in the blank like I knew what he was talking about. Too bad for him I hadn’t a clue.
“But through it all, a husband and wife need to keep the lines of communication open. Shutting a spouse out does nothing to heal the wounds. In fact, it only makes those hurts fester.” He patted my hand again. “What I’m trying to say is, if you and Landon need a mediator to help with whatever dispute you two have going on, or if you feel like your relationship would benefit from some counseling…well, Annie and I are here for you. For whatever you two need.”
“Landon and me?”
“Yes.”
“Marriage counseling?”
He let go of my hand to grip my shoulder and look me in the eye. “With the way you’ve been ignoring him, the space you’ve put between the two of you, it might be a good idea.”
“Landon and me?” Yes, I sounded like my default button was set on repeat, but I was having a very surreal conversation at the moment.
“Married couples often have rocky moments. It’s nothing to be ashamed about.” The side of his mouth quirked in a grin. “Just think. Once everything is sorted out, you can get along to making up.”
A strangled noise emanated from my throat.
“No need to be embarrassed. It’s the perk of an argument between two committed individuals who ultimately love each other. Plus, it’s Biblical.” He laughed.
Ew. Ew. Ew. Pastors weren’t supposed to think, much less talk about making up.
I shifted on the preserved log. What would make this conversation end? Like, right now. Maybe if he thought there weren’t any problems between my husband and myself. “Landon and I are fine, Mr. Abrams.” I smiled to add punch to my statement. “Everything is A-okay in marriage-ville for us.” Marriage-ville? Really? I ratcheted my smile up higher.
His brows rose. “So this distance is normal for you two? You don’t hold hands? Kiss? Even sit or walk next to each other?” His eyes studied me, and I squirmed some more. Lifting his hands, he shrugged. “Excuse me, then. I didn’t mean to butt into your personal—”
“Oh. Oh, that.” I laughed, throwing my head back as I forced out chuckles into the air. “That…well, that’s different. That… I was just going to talk to Landon about that.” Whatever in the world that was. I stood and brushed my hands down my pants. “If you’ll just…” I hitched a thumb over over my shoulder, scrunched up my nose, and mumbled jibberish under my breath as I turned on my heel and skedaddled my way out of there.
