"Sure, sure, let's go upstairs to the restaurant." He steered me away as fast as he could, not wanting me to linger a second longer.
In the elevator, I spoke as if the thought had just occurred to me. "That receptionist downstairs seemed sweet. She must be new, right?"
Ralph answered so fast the words practically tripped over each other. "Yeah, just an intern. I barely notice those people."
I let out a soft "oh" and said nothing more. Inside, I laughed at that pathetic lie a thousand times over.
Over lunch, I played the doting wife. I placed food on his plate, asked if work had been stressful lately, whether he was getting enough rest.
Ralph looked genuinely moved. He took my hand and squeezed it, his voice thick with affection. "Nobody understands me like you do, babe. Nobody takes care of me the way you do. Having you makes everything feel okay."
Watching that tender, devoted act of his, my stomach turned.
I pretended something had just come to mind and said lightly, "Oh, by the way, someone mentioned a few nice properties to me recently. Great school districts. Should we go take a look?"