Two o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, a sunny afternoon. Lily sat across from him--she in the recliner, he on the couch. She glanced at her watch.
"I think--I think that this--we are not--"
"Not what?"
"We really don't want--we are not looking for the same things."
"Things?" Dan leaned toward her.
She scooted forward in the chair. "Like children."
"You want children?"
"Maybe. And I want you to bring more friends into our relationship."
"Children and friends."
"I've been thinking about going to church."
"Wow."
"See."
"Well, just that we haven't talked about--ever."
"It's not just that. I want to move back to Chicago."
"What? We've been here seven, maybe just six months. I just got that big grant."
"I know. And other things. I want to buy a house."
"You mean you want us to buy a house."
"Yes, us. And I don't understand why you don't apply to be director."
"I just started the job. Being director is about knowing people--it's political. I just got here."
"I want to live downtown."
"Downtown? You know how expensive--"
"I know. I just want to be there. To be closer to everything. You would be closer."
"Wow, Lily. I'm not sure what to say. Are you that unhappy?"
"Don't ask me that."
"I'm not here in your life to make you unhappy."
Lily looked at her watch. "I'm meeting people at Creekside. From work."
"Oh."
"Do you want to come?"
"You want me to?"
"I think some of them might help you at the museum."
"The museum?"
"Yes. If you applied to be director."
"Why are we having this discussion?"
"I just want--"
"Want? Want what? More?"
"More than that. I want to go home."
"Honestly, I don't know what to say to that."
"Don't say anything. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
Lily stood and looked at him. Slowly she walked away. Dan heard her pick up the keys. Then the door pulled shut.
Lyman 2025
