Graham paused. You're right. I appreciated that he didn't argue. The next morning, I was driving to the warehouse when my phone rang. Alice.
I stared at the screen for several seconds. Then I answered, "Hello. " She didn't speak immediately. Finally, she said, "Hi, Peter. " Hi. Her voice sounded different, smaller. I know you probably don't want to hear from me.
You're right. She took a breath. I wanted to apologize. For what? For everything.
I kept my eyes on the road. That's a lot. I know. What exactly are you apologizing for? She was silent.
Then she said, "For leaving the way I did. " I said nothing. "For choosing Thomas. " Still nothing. for thinking I could throw away 15 years and just start over. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. You made your decision. I know.
And I accepted it. You did. Then what do you want from me? Her voice cracked. I want to see you.
No. She went quiet. Peter, please. No, I just want one conversation. You had that conversation before you left.
This is different. How? She couldn't answer. I slowed the car as I approached a red light. Then she finally said the words I knew she had been building toward.
I made a mistake. The light turned green. I drove forward. You made a choice, Alice. I know.
Now you have to live with it. She started crying. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't insult her. I simply said what I believed.
You don't get to come back because the life you chose didn't work. There was silence. Then she whispered, "I still love you. " I closed my eyes for a second. That was the first thing she had said that truly mattered. But it didn't change my answer.
I don't hate you, Alice. I paused. But I'm not your husband anymore. Alice didn't call me again for almost two weeks. I assumed that was the end of it.
I was wrong. On a Tuesday afternoon, I was leaving a meeting when my receptionist called me. Peter, there's a woman here asking for you. Who? Alice?
I stopped walking. Did she say why she's here? She said she needs to speak with you. I looked toward the front entrance. Tell her I'll come down.
I didn't want her walking into my office and seeing my employees. When I reached the lobby, Alice was standing near the windows. She looked different. Not dramatically, just tired. Her hair wasn't styled the way it used to be, and she was wearing a simple coat and jeans instead of the expensive clothes she had always preferred.
She turned when she saw me. Hi. Hey. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then she said, "Thank you for coming down.