We sat at the kitchen table.
He began explaining why he’d contacted Marcia.
He thought the photographs might remind me of the stolen dress.
He thought canceling would reduce my stress.
He thought a refund would be practical.
I listened until he finished.
Then I asked one question.
“Did you ever ask what I wanted?”
He looked down.
“No.”
“You knew those photographs mattered to me.”
“I did.”
“Then why did you decide for me?”
He stared at the green circle around Saturday’s date on our calendar.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he spoke quietly.
“Because I was still thinking I knew what was best.”
I waited.
He continued.
“I did exactly what I did with the clothes. I decided something of yours should be handled differently, and I acted before talking to you.”
For the first time, he had described his behavior without blaming my emotions.
