On the other side of the globe, Sandy and Kirsten had been enjoying their vacation so far in Venice, Italy. It was early morning, and Kirsten was drinking her morning cup of coffee on the balcony of their penthouse hotel suite. Sandy, who was still in bed, awoke slightly and rolled over in bed expecting to find his wife, but instead he found an empty bed. Sandy opened his eyes and searched the room for Kirsten. He got up and put his robe on and walked out of the bedroom, into the expansive living room of their suite. Sandy then noticed the French doors open, and a breeze coming through the doors. He made his way out onto the balcony and found his wife sipping coffee staring out at the beautiful Venice skyline.
Sandy: I gotta say, this trip was a good idea.
Kirsten jumped slightly in her seat.
Kirsten: Oh…Sandy, you startled me.
Sandy: Sorry.
Sandy approached his wife and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
Sandy: What were you thinking about?
Kirsten: (Quickly) Nothing.
Sandy gave her a look and knew she was lying to him, but decided to not push it. Kirsten nervously shifted in her seat, and stared out at the skyline again. The two sat in silence, while Sandy tried to figure out was wrong. He had almost mustered the nerve to ask Kirsten, but she spoke up before he had a chance.
Kirsten: Well…I better get going; I made an appointment for a massage in the hotel spa.
Sandy: Okay.
Kirsten got up and walked back into their room, and a few minutes later was heading out the door and downstairs to the hotel spa. Sandy watched his wife leave the hotel room, and immediately concerned. Sandy sat down on the couch and tired to distract himself by watching TV.
About an hour later Kirsten returned from the spa and found Sandy asleep on the couch with an American movie dubbed into Italian, with English subtitles playing on the TV. Kirsten immediately walked over to the TV and turned it off. A half awake Sandy perked up.
Sandy: Hey, I was watch - …reading that.
Kirsten chuckled slightly and walked into their bedroom. Sandy sat up on the couch and rubbed his eyes.
Sandy: Do you want to go out to lunch?
Kirsten: (From bedroom) Sure. Where do you want to go?
Sandy: I saw this small café down the street…we could go there.
Kirsten emerged from the bedroom.
Kirsten: Okay.
Sandy looked up and found his wife standing over him.
Sandy: Do you want to go?
Kirsten: Yeah.
Kirsten and Sandy sit on the outdoor patio in silence. Sandy had been trying to make conversation, but Kirsten wasn't playing along. Finally Sandy gave up and the two sat watching the people walk past the restaurant.
Sandy: Honey, are you sure you're okay?
Kirsten: Yes.
Sandy: We've been married too long for me not to know when you're lying to me.
A smile seemed to escape Kirsten's mouth, but was immediately suppressed.
Sandy: Look, honey, I know it hasn't been easy…it hasn't been easy for any of us. It's been one thing after another since the beginning of the summer. First, Ryan and Theresa…
Kirsten who had been looking at Sandy immediately looked away. Sandy noticed this, but kept talking.
Sandy: …then it was Seth running away, now it's your father. I know you're worried about your dad, and the company, but there's not much we can do about that and…
Kirsten: Sandy…stop; please.
Sandy stopped talking and gave a confused look to Kirsten.
Kirsten: Sandy, I have to tell you something.
Sandy looked into Kirsten's eyes, and saw worry and panic. Sandy reached across the table and held Kirsten's hand.
Sandy: Kirsten, you can tell me anything.
Kirsten: Do you remember when I told you that you can't know everything about a person.
Sandy nodded.
Kirsten: I've lived with this for so many years; I don't know why I can't get it out of head.
Sandy: Honey, just tell me.
Kirsten: I had an abortion.
Sandy's face went blank as he stared at Kirsten not knowing what to say. The minutes seemed like hours as they passed and the two sat in silence.
Kirsten: Say something.
Sandy: I don't know…
Kirsten: Anything.
Sandy: I guess I just don't understand why you didn't tell me in the first place. I mean, we could have come to a decision together…you didn't have to do it alone.
Kirsten: Sandy you…you don't understand.
Sandy got an even more confused look on his face.
Kirsten: The baby wasn't yours.
Sandy went pale and immediately let go of Kirsten's hand. Kirsten got a look of defeat in her eyes.
Sandy: Who was –
And suddenly Sandy realized who the father was.
Sandy: Jimmy.
Kirsten nodded her head and looked down at the floor.
Sandy: I can barely believe this.
Kirsten didn't say anything, and Sandy sat there staring at her. Without hesitation Sandy stood up and started moving away from the table. Before Kirsten could stop him, Sandy was walking down the sidewalk away from the café, and away from Kirsten.