"I believe that a man should stay with his wife and that a man should lay with his wife!" Mary was running out of air now. "And if a man cannot lay with his wife, he should be honest as to why!"
Abe shut his eyes tight, trying to contain his anger at her. She knew Ben was back, she knew how they'd snuck off as young men. "I've already told you why." He said softly, holding in his groan.
She stared at him, trying to figure him out for a very long moment.
"I'm sorry, Mary, if somewhere between Thomas' death and this moment you actually fell in love with me, but you knew where my heart belonged."
"I don't love you." She snapped. "But we've lain together before…"
"Granted, a few times, yes." Abe sighed. "Mary, I'm not… unable to lay with a woman, but it… it is more difficult to persuade parts of me-"
"Stop." She insisted.
"Mary, I love him." He continued anyway. "I've loved him since we were children. You knew that, and you agreed to keep my secret if I married you."
Mary sat down heavily at the dinner table.
"Can you accept that, Mary? Can you accept me?"
She was silent for a long moment.
"...I can."