FISH WATER

He’d said if he got his asking price on the house, he would take her away for a romantic weekend—maybe stay at a cozy bed-and-breakfast along the northern coast. But now, jubilant that he’d gotten even more than he’d hoped for, he said he expected her to pay her own way, though he knew she was on the verge of losing her job.

Incredulous and stung, she flew down to LA to spend a weekend with her best friend to collect herself and sort things out—her finances so precarious, she borrowed the money from her friend for the standby ticket.

No sooner was she back than she and Zeke had another argument.

“Zeke, there wasn’t any room in the fridge for my groceries. When I got back from the store, somebody else’s stuff was on my shelf and when I tried to move it, smelly fish water spilled all over the floor.”

“Your shelf! So you’re getting territorial about the refrigerator? The space is for all of us to share.”

“But Lisa told me when I moved in to take the bottom shelf. I thought…”

But he refused to listen. “I didn’t know you were so selfish,” he muttered, walking out of the room.

Later, when she tried to explain again, he changed the subject, saying it turned him off that she’d borrowed money from a friend.

“But you just borrowed $50,000 from your parents!” she cried.

“That’s different—I borrowed money from family.”

“Well, my family doesn’t have any money to lend me.”

She felt panicky then about everything coming apart—that she was going to lose her home, her job, her lover… Maybe if she went ahead and found another place to live, began to settle herself in a new life—maybe it would take some of the pressure off their relationship… So she did.