STALEMATES AND CONCESSIONS 2/4

Days had turned into weeks and the situation at the Vermont Retreat, or so they called it, had remained at a stalemate. He recognized that giving her the cold shoulder was wrong; he just couldn't understand why she refused to get help with him. Deep down he knew he should ask her, confront her, and have a full blown argument with her. He was just so damn upset and scared-why didn't she want to save their marriage?

The sad thing was that they had almost grown accustomed to the pattern they found themselves in; barely speaking and not even the slightest touch. He was no longer greeted every morning to her bright eyes and warm smile, not like she used to. He no longer got to see her dance around the kitchen, not like she used to. He no longer got to hear her laugh, see her smile, receive her kisses, and bask in her love, not like he used to.

He was heartbroken over the entire situation. They had moved past anger and resentment. There was an incredible sadness that overtook their house and the relationship. He felt they were so far gone they couldn't even put a front up for Thanksgiving. He knew their families noticed; the cautious looks they gave each other when they thought he wasn't paying attention. It made for a tense and awkward holiday, not what either of them needed especially with the hell they were going through.

The last straw for him, though, was when he realized that their first year anniversary had come and gone without mentioning, much less celebrating.

Truth be told: he thought of leaving. Not because he wanted to or that he loved her any less than he did before. Yet it was becoming impossible to stay in this shell of his marriage and watch his wife slowly fade away.

But there was a moment, when her mother called, that he saw a flicker of a smile on her face and for just a second he saw his Karen again. A surge of hope seared through him and he suddenly felt a renewed faith in his marriage. If she was in there, hidden deep down below the steely exterior of Karen Hayes, he would find her.

He approached her one night after dinner; she was sitting in front of the fire with the lights down low staring out the window at the snow falling. Sitting next to her on the couch, he took her hand in his. He needed her to feel his desperation. He saw her tear up at that small gesture and prayed that perhaps she was tired their situation too.

"Karen-"

"Don't Bill. I know what you're going to say. You know, did you ever stop to think that your continual insistence that we get 'help', hurts me?"

His heart sank. "Yeah well, did you ever stop to think that your denial is killing our marriage?"

She looked as if he had slapped her. He knew his comment was sharp and probably cut her deep. But her secondary reaction was not what he expected: she burst into tears.

He instinctively reached out for her and he thanked god that at least some things hadn't changed. She clung to him and sobbed into his chest. In the two years they had been together he had never really seen this side of her. He wasn't sure exactly what it meant but he had a feeling it was a sign they were on the right path and he made a silent vow to make sure he did everything to keep it that way.

With her consent and by his side, Bill booked their first appointment the next morning.