Well (#Reedsytalk)

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Well, did you tell her you’re falling in love with her again?”

“Oh. No.”

“Well, why not?”

“She’ll take it the wrong way?”

“How can anybody take that the wrong way?”

“She’ll think I want to, like, move in together or something.”

“And you don’t?”

“No. Uh, No.”

“So you just want to sleep with her.”

“No, I don’t want to do that either.”

“What the hell?

“Exactly. That’s why there’s no point in telling her.”

“Okay . . . Well, whatever then. Where does that leave us?”

“Oh. Well, I still like going out with you.”

“Great. Well, I hate to break it to you, but I’m looking for a real relationship. Like marriage.”

“I thought you said you were through with all that.”

“Well, maybe I SAID that, but I only said it because you said it. I thought you’d change your mind.”

“No. I meant it. I don’t want to get married again. Like ever.”

“I see.”

“Do you still want to go eat?”

“No, I really don’t. I just discovered I wasted six months with you. I only agreed to see you again because I was curious what was going to happen with you and Jenny.”

“It wasn’t a complete waste, was it? We had fun.”

“I’m too old to just have fun. God.”

“Well, I guess I’ll just take you home, then.”

“Do you have any FEELINGS at all even?”

“Well, of course I do. And you’re hurting them by the way.”

“Well, you’re sure hurting mine.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t sound sorry.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you. But if you had been truthful with me from the beginning. . .”

“I know . . .”

“I’ll see you Monday.”

“Everyone in the office will pick up on the difference between us.”

“Yeah, that will suck.”

“Yes, it will. Goodnight.”

“’Night.”

“Hello?”

“Hi, Jenny.”

“Hi! What’s up?”

“I just wondered if you wanted to come over Saturday night. I could make some steaks on the grill and we could find a movie on TV.”

“Oh! That sounds great! I’ve missed watching movies with you. You’re the only person I like to watch movies with. I usually can’t sit still that long. I don’t know why.”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun! Do you want me to pick you up?”

“No, I can drive there, now that I FINALLY have a new truck.

“Another F-150.”

“Clifford the second.”

“Is that what the kids call it?”

“Yeah, that’s what they told the grandkids to call it, too.”

“I saw the twins at Walmart yesterday. They were with your Mom and sister.”

“Headed toward the toy aisle, I’ll bet.”

“Yeah they were looking for a playhouse, but I told them I’d build them any kind of playhouse they wanted.”

“Oh, cool. That sounds wonderful! How’s work going?”

“Well, it never ends . . . I’m still plugging along.”

“I read your column every morning.”

“Yesterday’s kind of sucked. I’m sorry.”

“I liked it! It had a lot of heart.”

“I think I got too heavy-handed.”

“Not at all.”

“Can you come over like at six?”

“That sounds good. See you then.”

“Bye.”

“’Morning, Steve.”

“’Morning, James.”

“So I hear you and the ex are getting back together.

“What? No . . . Who told you that?”

“Gwen. She said you broke up with her so you could get back together with Jenny.”

“Oh, really? Well, it’s all news to me!”

“So you didn’t break up with her?”

“I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t know why Gwen does.”

“Yeah, she’s telling everybody.”

“Great. Whatever.”

“Well, what’s your side of the story?”

“Nothing. There’s no ‘story.’”

“Gwen’s got a story.”

“She can have it. I’m here to work.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll see you later.”

“Later.”

“Hey, Steve, I haven’t seen you for awhile!”

“Yeah, it’s good to see you, Bruce. How are you doing?”

“Well, the good Lord just blessed me with my eighth grandchild! What’ll you have?”

“A pint is fine. Boy or girl?”

“A girl! That makes it exactly even. You have any more yet?”

“Still just the twins, but I’m glad to be in their lives. My oldest wasn’t speaking to me for awhile.”

“Yeah, I remember. That was tough. I’m glad you two patched things up.”

“As well as they can be.”

“I hear ya. You and the Mrs. still dating, I’ll bet.”

“We’re still friends.”

“That’s good. Most couples break up and never want to see each other again.”

“Yeah . . .

“I keep waiting to hear about you two getting married again.”

“I don’t believe in marriage, never did, really.”

“I read somewhere that all married couples have one person who is more in love than the other.”

“ ‘If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me’?”

“That’s not the one I meant, but that’s exactly what I’m talking about! I mean, whenever you two are together, I can see the glow on her face.”

“I’m probably leading her on.”

“Oh, she’s a smart lady, not the type to be lead anywhere she doesn’t want to go.”

“I guess I’m just feeling weird because I asked her over to my place for a movie and steaks on the grill. It’s like kind of nostalgic.”

“Well, it’s not like you asked her to run away to Vegas. Still, do you ever think maybe you’d be happier married again?”

“I don’t know. I better get back to work.”

“OK, man. Thanks for the tip.”

“Hi, Aunt Linda!”

“Hi, Jenny, how are you doing?”

“Good. I’m finally over that awful summer cold.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Ready to quit smoking?”

“Hardly. Now that it tastes good again, I want to smoke more! Anyway, how’s teaching going.”

“Good. Teaching graduate students is so rewarding. They put in most of the work.”

“I doubt that.”

“Well, you know I love working.”

“I’m going to Steve’s this weekend, and he’s going to make steak on his grill.”

“He’s so good to you.”

“Well, yeah. It’s not quite enough for me, though.”

“I’m sorry. I know you wish things had turned out differently.”

“I just feel stuck. He never wants to be married again, and I can’t ever move on.”

“I wish I knew what to tell you.”

“I’ve even tried dating sites.”

“Really? Not much there, I suppose.”

“Not unless I want to spend the rest of my life in an RV or hunting deer.”

“Well, focus on what’s good in your life is my advice.”

“I do, most of the time. I don’t really have any other options, except be miserable all the time.”

“Sorry I can’t be more help.”

“That’s OK. I just . . .

kind of felt like venting, I guess. I’ll talk to you soon. Or write.”

“OK, stay well.”

“You, too. Night.”

“Goodnight.”