"And then?" "And then," he said, "we talk about what comes next." The next 2 days passed slowly, the way a held breath passes. Richard moved through the house the way he had always moved through it, with the calm and slightly distracted attention of a man whose mind was on his work. He took calls in his study. He ate breakfast at the small table by the window. He kissed his wife on the cheek when he passed her in the hallway.
He smiled at the cook. He nodded at the gardener. He did not change a single small habit, because every habit was a piece of evidence in a story Vivian was reading, and any change would be a line out of place. On the second night, over dinner, he mentioned the trip. "I have to go to Hartwick on Friday morning," he said. "The meeting from this week, they rescheduled it. I should have gone on Monday. I cannot put it off again."
Vivian looked at him across the candles. She did not react immediately. She took a small sip of her wine, set the glass down, and then nodded. "Of course," she said. "Is the company sending a different driver this time?" "Marcus is arranging it through a new service. He says they have vetted everyone. Anthony will be driving. I told the company I wanted him specifically." "That sounds wise." "It is." She smiled at him. He smiled back.
They both ate their dinner. Somewhere in the dark space between them two plans were now moving forward at the same time and only one of them knew that. Friday morning came clean and cold. Richard came downstairs at 7:30 in a dark suit with his briefcase and his coat over his arm. Vivian was already in the kitchen. She handed him his coffee. She straightened his tie. She kissed him at the door. "Be safe," she said.