Stone Cold Fox (70)

“Bea, please. You’ve only known him, what, a little over a year or so? Isn’t that right?” She played with the pearls around her neck as she played with me.

“That’s right,” I said with a pained smile. “Since you’re so familiar with this issue, I gather that this is a recurring, um, problem?”

“It’s not a problem if you already know the solution. And the solution is time. Collin will sort himself out. He always does.”

“Okay. Does he have other resources available to help him with depression?”

“You say depression like it’s something serious,” Haven scoffed. “The Cases come from healthy stock. It’s nothing, Bea. Completely normal. As for resources? Hmm. He has a wife, doesn’t he? In sickness and in health, dear. You said it yourself.”

She was reveling in my dismay over her own son’s mental issues. No wonder Collin was so eager to get married to me, my charm and beauty withstanding. I actually made it a point to care about his well-being. I knew intimately that if you couldn’t rely on your own mother, you’re inevitably fucked-up forever about where to go for any sort of help. You just let any and all issues fester on the inside until you explode or melt down or spiral into a deep pit of despair, like Collin. Or use it as fuel, like I did, but most people weren’t like me. At any rate, Haven Case was basically telling me that Collin was my problem now.



* * *



? ? ?

AFTER A FEW more weeks of being patient and no improvement whatsoever, I realized I would have to speak directly with Collin about the issue at hand so we could fix it and I could get down to business with Gale. My previous soft attempts were always rebuffed. He was rather deft at changing the subject or he’d stonewall me altogether, retreating to another room without me. It was infuriating. I demanded respect and admiration at all times, especially this early. Our marriage was off to a pitiful start, which could make it easier for Collin to leave. Sure, a few years down the line, couples get ornery with one another. It could happen. It’s normal. Every WASP probably stays in an unhappy marriage, or spells of one, regardless; no one wants to divorce after a certain amount of time. More discretion needed for any extracurricular activities perhaps, but they often learn to look the other way. Put up a front. It’s fine. But that’s not where Collin and I were. We were mere weeks in and he was already behaving this way? I was very concerned. With Collin being of a different generation from his parents, maybe there would be even more understanding that he made a mistake. A rash decision. Who among us hasn’t fallen in love too fast before? Wrongly seduced by Cupid’s wayward arrow. They could all look the other way as I was left out in the cold with nothing. A blip on the Case family radar. Break off my branch from the tree, let a new one grow in its place. I had to get ahead of this and figure out what was wrong with him. Primarily for my own mental health.

Collin was watching an animated show for adults, in pajama pants, housing ice cream from the carton. Dreadful. His poor diet was starting to show on his body. He needed me and I would have to be up to the task. “Hello, Mr. Case.” I snuggled up next to him and went in for a kiss. He offered his cheek. Savage. I had to bring out the big guns. “I visited your mother the other week. As you know, I’ve been concerned about you.”

Collin shot up from the couch and turned around to look at me, stunned by my revelation. “So you went to see my mom?” It was the most animated I’d seen him in ages. I stood up to meet his gaze.

“I had some questions for her about what’s been going on with you. I thought she might be helpful, since it didn’t seem like you wanted to talk about it with me.”

“You went to my mom for help?” He laughed mirthlessly, his teeth taking center stage yet again. “Jesus Christ.”

“I don’t know what else I was supposed to do. You think I wanted to go see her? I’m trying. With your family. With you. Collin, I’ve been trying to talk to you about how you’re feeling since we got back in town. It’s been weeks. This isn’t like you.”

“I’m sure she had a lot to contribute. So what wisdom did she impart to you?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“I’m fine.”

He was lying to my face. Oh, we were married now, the dark side of it quickly emerging. But I had to stay sweet and concerned. Not for Collin, but for me. Eye on the prize. I’d watched Mother do it before. I could do it, too.

“She mentioned that this happens sometimes and that it isn’t cause for concern. I disagree—”

“Like she’d know anything about it,” he grumbled.

“Have you talked to anybody recently?” I had to tread lightly. This was a delicate subject. Clearly. “Like a professional?”

“No,” he barked. “I know how to handle myself.”

Love is patient, love is kind, I thought to myself and scoffed.

Keep it up, Bea. Keep. It. Up.

“Okay. Well, maybe you could see a doctor. Just in case there’s some new developments. There’s no shame in taking care of yourself. We can get some referrals easily, I’m sure.” I believed this to be a pretty mild request and one that should be nonnegotiable. Didn’t he want to feel better? Besides, I needed him at his peak to finish off Gale.