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‘Sad or crazy?’ I ask quietly

He eathersboth of my cheeks in my palms ‘Sad’ he affirms ‘Kiss me, wife’

I’ive hiet to escape sooner But then clapping starts, and I’ Jesse’s lips on ?

‘I love her’ He shrugs, like that explains why he has just manhandled me to the floor and de to a bunch of strangers that we’re expecting twins

‘Twins!’

I julish of the waiter, aves a bottle of chane in front of us ‘You lasses I cringe It’s very thoughtful, but there’s no way either of us are drinking it

‘Thank you,’ I s around to watch us clink glasses and swig ‘That’s very kind’ He must hear my mental plea or seethe surroundings People have returned to theirfond looks every so often, but the interest seeh I frown at her, but I’m distracted when Jesse’s hand lands on my knee I turn and find a face full of mischievousness Yes, he’s demonstrated his point loud and clear, and for everyone to see

‘I cannot believe you did that’

‘Why?’ He pushes the chaue ain, and I knoho it is I turn slowly, finding her staring again She’s quite a few tables away, and there are ivingher one, too, because she’stheh she’s returned to herover aze is directed

‘There, the woan’ I almost point across the restaurant, but quickly rein inhand ‘Can you see?’

After what seems like forever has passed and he still hasn’t answered me, I turn and watch as the colour drains fro a pasty shocked one in place of the tanned content one

‘What’s the e his te with just a second’s touch that he’s stone cold ‘Jesse?’ He’s staring blankly past ?’

He shakes his head, like he’s shaking off a concussion, and turns haunted eyes ontoto look okay, butseriously wrong ‘We’re leaving’ He stands, knocking a glass over, attracting a little bita pile of notes on the table, he wastes no ti me out of the restaurant

He strides with co behind hiain, but I know it’s in vain He has completely shut down

The car door is opened, and I look up at hi No acknowledgment, no expression, no explanation I do notice his shoulder tense and rise, though, and his chest is beginning to heave He’s looking pastto push me into the car

‘Jesse?’ The unfamiliar female voice pulls my attention away from my spaced out husband and to a wo Jesse’s hand gripnow, too I’e to take her in, running er who has spent the best part of her ti atat her, the clearer it’s all becoet ued by who I’ or shouting at me impatiently, despite my defiance It makes me want to cry

‘Jesse, son’ The woet to call et in That was all the confir else, no shouting matches or explanations That’s Jesse’s mum I shift my body in the seat and watch hi concerned when I see his mum hurry past the front to intercept his it off, I hear as she pleads for a chance to talk, and then I see as she presses her body up against the driver’s door to prevent hi the car His hands fly to his hair and yank, the pain on his face breaking my heart He won’t physically remove his mother, which leaves him out there vulnerable I can’t just sit here and watch hiet out andbut deterh me

I stand in front of Jesse, like a protective shield, and look her square in the eye ‘Please, I’ you to move’