Chapter Four

Rudy got to his lab at the usual time (before the sun had fully risen) – and was shocked to see Jaime dozing in a chair in the hallway. He tiptoed past, not wanting to wake her, but she stirred when she heard his key turn in the lock.

"Good morning," he said, trying to hide his alarm at the sight of her drawn, pale face and red-rimmed eyes. "I'm afraid Michael's not here yet."

"I know where Michael is," Jaime told him sadly. "Rudy...can I talk to you?"

"Come on in," he invited, gently placing an arm around her shoulder. "Coffee's fresh – I have it on timer. Looks like you could use some." Jaime nodded her thanks as Rudy handed her a steaming mug. "Now, what can I do for you?" he asked gently. "Are you sick?" (She certainly didn't look well.)

Jaime shook her head miserably. "Michael's not happy..." she began.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that -" Rudy protested.

"I would. And...it's getting worse, Rudy. He doesn't talk to me! Either he sits around brooding into a martini glass – or he delivers orders like a doctor to his patient....and I'm not his patient when we're at home!"

"Of course, you're not," Rudy sympathized. "Honey, for what it's worth, I know Michael loves you – very much. He may not be the most expressive man God ever put on the planet, but his feelings are genuine. I promise you that."

"I love him too – I really do – but...I blew it. I did something awful..."

Rudy gently took her hand. "Honey, if you did it, it can't possibly be that awful."

Jaime couldn't hold back the tears as she told Rudy everything that had happened the day before, from Steve's phone call to Michael locking himself in the bedroom for the night. "And now, I've gone outside in the cold when he told me not to. He'll be furious...."

Rudy frowned. "Jaime, I'm not sure what Michael told you, but if you're well-bundled and in a heated car...you're in no danger." He made a mental note to himself that a chat with his young cohort would be on the top of his 'to-do' list.

Jaime was very quiet and (if it was possible) grew even paler as the information sunk in. Had she really spent the last few weeks as a virtual shut-in for no reason other than her husband's whim? She dried her eyes with a tissue and rose resolutely to her feet. "I guess...I have a lot of thinking to do," she said quietly.

Rudy tried to stop her, to offer to talk to Michael himself...but Jaime was already gone.

- - -

It was still very early morning when Michael emerged from the bedroom – and Jaime was waiting in the kitchen with French toast, sausage, a smile...and a plan. Acting every bit the dutiful wife, she served him his breakfast, cleared his plate when he was finished and then stood behind his chair, gently massaging his shoulders.

"That feels really good," he told her.

"Well, you do so much for me. I mean, all the time you've spent working on a new heating component, just so I can go outside..."

"Anything for you, Love."

"Do you think it'll be ready before Spring gets here? Maybe we could take a trip up to the cabin some weekend, build a snowman and just...have fun." Jaime wondered to herself if Michael had the slightest inkling what 'fun' even meant.

"I'm really trying, but next Winter for sure."

"Uh-huh." Jaime gripped his shoulders a little more firmly, turning him to face her. She pulled a chair directly across from him and sat knee-to-knee, staring him straight in the eyes. "There is no new component – is there, Michael?"

"What are you talking about?"

"In fact, it's perfectly safe for me to go outside any time I damn well choose, as long as I'm sensible about it. Why would you lie to me?"

"Did Austin put you up to this?"

"Oh, leave him out of it! He has nothing to do with the fact that my husband has turned me into a recluse – supposedly 'for my safety' – but really for whatever your own selfish reasons might be! Why, Michael? Why would you do this? I love you!" Jaime brushed a single angry tear from her eye. "You know what? It doesn't matter. Without trust, there is no marriage – and I obviously can't trust a word that comes out of your mouth."

"Jaime, please listen -"

"No! I'm done listening to you. I'm getting a lawyer and -"

"You're not leaving me, Jaime," he said in a low voice.

"Watch me."

"If you leave....I'll call Jenn Austin. I'm sure she'd be interested in knowing her husband put the moves on my wife."

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