“Ellie, we can fix this.”
“What if I don’t want to fix it? What if I say I’m happy here by myself?”
It feels like my heart is being wrenched from my chest. “What?” I ask with a gasp.
She blows out a breath. “Bobby, we can’t keep doing this. You want things one way, and I want them another. If we can’t meet in the middle then?—”
I cut her off. “You’re not leaving me, Ellie. I won’t let you.”
I can tell she’s out of patience by the tone of her voice. “Then things are going to have to change. If you want me back… prove it.”
I open my mouth but slam it closed. I’ve been down this road before. I know that she’s not going to listen to my demands. I clench my eyes shut and shake my head. Since she walked out on me, my life has been hell. I’ve been making rash decisions, I’m barely sleeping, and I feel like my heart is broken. No, I can’t keep going this way. I have to fix this.
“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
She’s silent, no doubt surprised that I’m willing to give in.
I’m a stubborn man and used to getting my way, but what Eleanor doesn’t know is that I will do anything to keep her.
But the fact she’s not saying anything spooks me a little bit. “Ellie, talk to me. I can’t lose you. I can’t. I’ll do anything.”
Still nothing. I start to panic. “Do you love me?”
When she doesn’t answer immediately, I plead with her. “Baby, talk to me. Do you love me?”
I hold my breath, waiting for her to answer.
Her voice is just a whisper. “Yes, of course I love you, but…”
I shake my head and stand up, gripping my phone even tighter. “No buts. If you love me, we can fix this. We will fix this.”
She sighs softly. “Robert, we need?—”
“I’ll just head over there now and help you pack up.”
“Robert.”
My shoulders loosen. “And then we can put this all behind us.”
“Stop!” she shouts into the phone. “I’m not coming home. Not yet. Not until I know that things are going to change, Bobby.”
I grunt. “Make your demands then. What do you want?”
Her voice raises an octave. “Make my demands? Look, maybe we should talk about this face to face.”
I’m already moving toward my keys. “Fine. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“No! I think we should talk tomorrow… in the daylight… during the day…”
I lean my head back and stare at the ceiling. “I need to see you.”
Even I can hear the vulnerability in my voice. I miss my wife. I miss looking at her, touching her, having her.
“Please,” I plead with her.
With a soft breath, she agrees. “Okay. Come on over.”
I’m already at my car. My driver is home, and it’s stupid for me to drive downtown without any bodyguards or protection, but I’m going.
