Marital Spat

Callie stifled a laugh. ‘Not really. I mean, she thought you were, because you never dated and never had a girlfriend.’ Elias muttered something inaudible, but Callie was pretty sure it was a swear word. She mumbled, half to herself, ‘I still find it hard to believe you are the one Harriet’s into.’ ‘What’s so hard to believe?’ Elias demanded. ‘That other women would find me attractive?’ ‘From the way she talked about you, I’m not so sure she’s really attracted to you.’ Callie perched on the coffee table, facing Elias. ‘What did she say to you, exactly?’ ‘She popped the question, asked me to marry her.’ Callie stopped smiling and folded her arms on her lap, studying Elias intently. ‘And what did you tell her?’ She held her new friend in high regard and wanted her to find happiness. But when she discovered that it was Elias Harriet was pursuing, a pang of jealousy stung her heart. Harriet was quite the catch, to be fair. Gorgeous, charismatic, already a lieutenant colonel at her age – she and Elias had a lot in common. Unlike Callie, who felt like a fish out of water when military jargon was thrown around. She had difficulty catching up with him during training, whether it was running laps or target shooting. Elias never mentioned it, but Callie knew he often went out of his way to make her feel comfortable in his world. ‘How do you think I should’ve answered her?’ Elias narrowed his eyes. Like Callie, he didn’t often wear his wedding ring in case he lost it during training. But that didn’t mean he wanted to hide his marriage from the rest of the world. Callie winced. ‘I feel so stupid.’ ‘Why?’ ‘I didn’t know the impotent man she mentioned was you. Harriet’s a—’ ‘Stop using that word!’ Elias huffed. ‘And it’s not me!’ Callie simply nodded and continued, ‘Harriet’s a good person. I just wanted to help. I never thought you were the one she had feelings for.’ She hung her head. Elias sensed her change in mood. ‘Hey, it’s not your fault.’ ‘It kind of is,’ Callie said in a low voice. ‘How long have you known her?’ ‘Sixteen years.’ ‘You two must have quite a history.’ ‘We do share a lot in common.’ There were no such things as survivors’ support groups back then. Elias, seventeen years old and on the cusp of adulthood, was too proud to share his fears and tears with Uncle Hershel. Having Harriet, who experienced a similar tragedy, really helped him through a lot of the dark times. Callie bit her lip when she saw a wistful look flit across Elias’s features. Her nails dug into her thigh. ‘Yeah, well, I can’t exactly compete with your sixteen-year history. I’ve only been in the picture for a few months. Sixteen years versus a few months – talk about an uneven match.’ ‘Come on, Bunny, don’t be like that—’ ‘Don’t call me Bunny. Rabbits are cute creatures, but they are silly. Is that what you think of me? Is that why you gave me that nickname? Because you think I’m silly?’ Callie stared at the floor. ‘I have to be, right? After all, I sent another woman on a date with my own husband. You can’t get sillier than that.’ Elias had a feeling that if he didn’t tread carefully, he was going to experience his first marital spat. He left the sofa and squatted down in front of Callie, looking up at her. ‘Hey, honey, look at me.’ She looked away. ‘It’s true that I’ve known Harriet for sixteen years, but does that mean I’m meant to be with her?’ Elias held her hand. Callie pulled away. ‘Sixteen years is a long time,’ Elias said. ‘If I—’ ‘I know it’s a long time,’ she cut him off with a bitter voice. ‘You don’t have to keep reminding me that.’ Elias inhaled deeply. ‘Let me finish. What I meant was, if I even had the slightest interest in Harriet, do you honestly believe I’d wait for sixteen years? That I’d still be single at thirty-three?’ Callie said nothing. Elias’s tone grew serious. ‘If I wanted to marry her, I’d have done so years ago. We could have had kids by now, if I wanted.’ ‘But—’ ‘You’re the one I’ve chosen, Callie.’ Elias reached for her hand again. ‘Why do you think it took me so long to get the paperwork sorted? Marriage to a high-ranking officer is no child’s play, Callie. From the moment we signed that marriage certificate, you became my one and only for life. Do you get that?’ Callie looked into his eyes. Tears welled up in hers as she gazed at Elias and saw the deep affection he held within. Elias leaned in, his lips brushing the back of her hand. ‘Honey, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’ ‘I’m not upset,’ she sniffled. ‘It’s your fault for saying such sweet things to me.’ No one had ever treated her so well. Even Simon, during the honeymoon phase of their relationship, had never said those things that could make her heart flutter. Past betrayals had left her wary, afraid of being left behind once more. But with Elias, her decision to take a chance on love had paid off. He wouldn’t leave her for someone prettier, smarter, richer. Elias read her mind. ‘Harriet’s like a sister to me. I can’t cut all ties with her because she’s family, but I swear to you, I’m never going to fall in love with her, or any other woman, for that matter.’ ‘Stop it. You are only going to make me cry harder.’ Callie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘I said those words to let you know how I feel, not to make you cry. If they bring tears, then I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on.’ Callie took his hand in hers. ‘I…I’m the one who encouraged Harriet to confess her feelings. Are you mad at me?’ ‘I was at first,’ Elias said truthfully. ‘Even though I don’t have those feelings for her, hearing her proposal was still awkward. And you, my dear wife, are complicit in the scheme to set up your husband with another woman.’ ‘That’s only because I didn’t know it was you.’ Callie clung to Elias’s neck, her arms wrapping around him. ‘If I’d known, I’d never had given her the chance!’