The Truth is in the Wine Read Online Free Page A

glasses. He picked up one and handed it to Ginger. She looked at the glass for several seconds, looked at her husband and finally reached for the glass.
    â€œI have always cared, Gin,” he said. “I just…”
    â€œYou just what, Paul?”
    â€œI just lost who I was,” he said.
    Ginger did not respond. She sat back on the couch, wine in hand.
    Paul went on. “I want you to realize that I’m sorry.”
    â€œYou said you want a divorce, Paul,” she shot out.
    â€œI know and I didn’t mean it,” he said.
    â€œSo why would you say something so hurtful?” Ginger said. “You said you wanted to get away from me. You think that didn’t hurt me, hurt my feelings?”
    â€œI didn’t mean it,” he said. “Listen, I was depressed. I was miserable. You won’t believe this, but I thought I would be doing the right thing by letting you move on. I didn’t see anything getting better and…I…I don’t know where that came from—divorce—but I just said it.”
    â€œYou don’t just say you want a divorce, Paul,” she said.
    â€œI just said it,” he responded. “I don’t want a divorce, Gin. I want us to get back to where we used to be. I really do.”
    â€œWhy? Why would you want that after how bad it has been?” she asked.
    â€œPlease taste your wine,” Paul said. “It’s good.”
    â€œPaul,” Ginger said, exasperated.
    â€œOK, I’m just saying,” he said. He sipped his wine and added: “Anyway, think about it: Our baby is off to college. It’s only you and me. This is the perfect time for us to find what we used to have.”
    Ginger finally tasted the wine. It was good—clean, light, fresh, floral.
    â€œI don’t know how to respond to this, Paul,” she said. “I was in the car just now and I felt like I was dying. I dreaded coming in here and dealing with your attitude and total disregard for me. I literally was in the car crying. I couldn’t breathe.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYes, I’m serious,” she said. “I felt like there was nothing for me to come into this house to, no love. So, for you to tell me you didn’t mean all the awful things you said to me, the way you have treated me the last few weeks.…I don’t know.”
    â€œYou’re supposed to be skeptical,” Paul said. “I understand it. I’m not asking you to do anything except have an open mind. I want to work this thing out. It’s very important to me.”
    Ginger took a big gulp of the wine, and it went straight to her head. She sipped more, and she could feel a change coming over her from it. When that happened, she became audacious.
    â€œSo, what’s this about? You want sex?” she said. “All of a sudden you’re serving me wine and you want to work it out? Look at you. You’re all shaven and even have on cologne. What’s going on? I don’t get it. It was bad before, but the last three weeks have been terrible.
    â€œAnd now you want to work it out? That’s hard to believe. I don’t care what you say.”
    Paul knew his wife and he knew that the wine was kicking in. He also knew that challenging her would result in her getting more and more combative, especially after she finished her glass and immediately poured herself another.
    There were times when he would challenge her. But this was not one of them.
    â€œYou will see over time,” he said. “Ginger, let’s make this work.”
    â€œHow do you propose we do this, Mr. I Want A Divorce?” she said.
    Paul smiled.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” she wanted to know. “You laughing at me?”
    â€œNo. I was thinking we should take a trip,” he said.
    â€œA trip?” Ginger cracked. “To where? Fantasy Island?”
    â€œI was thinking the trip we have been talking about for years—to