THE MOMENT
"About today...," Diane was thrilled to see her husband was still home. Rodney was seated on the couch when she walked in, and she was quick to begin her apology. She'd made a small mistake, and he did her a favor, which didn't end well. She forgot her lunch, and he delivered it to her at school. And by the time he left, she was feeling thoroughly embarrassed. She managed to get through the rest of the day, but she could hear the staff whispering behind her back.
"People were... surprised...," he said as he met her eyes. He didn't bother to stand up.
"I know, it's just that I keep my private life private!" she was ready with the response. "I have a reputation as one of the academy's most difficult professors, and that comes with a certain professional distance!"
"Oh?" He looked up at her with a curious expression. "Is that right?"
"Yes! Of course, honey, that's all it is. Besides! What does it matter? They're work acquaintances, you're the guy I actually married," she said. He seemed to relax, and she took a step closer with her assertion. He smiled and held a hand up to her.
"I guess you did marry me, didn't you?" he asked. He was warming up to her, and she put her hand in his, then settled onto his lap when he didn't flinch away.
"That's right, you're the man I love," she said.
"You sure it's not just this huge rock I got you?" Rodney asked with a teasing smile. He ran his thumb over her ring, and she looked down at it, but she shook her head.
"Of course not, dear," she giggled.
"You know, it's funny though," he said. "The whole point of wedding rings is to advertise you're married. You talk about how gossipy they all are, you’d think one of them would notice."
"Oh, you know how overworked I am. That goes for the rest of the staff, too," Diane shook her head. "No one pays attention to little things like that."
"I do," Rodney said. Diane gave herself away as soon as she stiffened. There was no other reason to bring it up now, unless he noticed. "I could not for the life of me understand why people were so surprised. I mean, clearly, you were wearing your wedding band... except you weren't."
"Honey, I-," Diane started an excuse, but Rodney shook his head.
"We were married for two years before you started at the academy a decade ago,” he idly toyed with the ring around her finger. “For 10 years, you went to work every day and removed your ring, only to put it on again when you come home? I supported you, and I did think it was strange you never wanted me to go to any work functions, but you're entitled to your career." He stood up in a swift, smooth motion without giving her time to grab onto anything, and she fell right on her behind with a thudding bounce.
"You can keep it, but this house is mine. I'd very much like you to leave it as soon as possible, and you might want to get a lawyer."