Loving Cousin

When I got up to go to the bathroom, I decided to take a shower to clean myself up. I put on my new nightie, but it felt silly after our fight, so I wore a long flannel robe over it. By the time I got out, John was back and in the kitchen. The dining room table was set and he was putting the roast and vegetables on a serving dish.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

When he looked at me, I saw longing and pain, and then he cleared his expression and nodded. "Getting hungry?"

"Yes."

He took a sip from a glass of red wine and picked up the serving dish. "Would you make us a salad, please?"

I got out lettuce and tomatoes to begin filling the salad bowl. When he came back into the kitchen, he held out a glass of wine for me. "Thanks." I wanted to say something that would ease the tension between us, but the words wouldn't come.

He opened the stove and pulled out a crusty loaf of bread that smelled strongly of garlic. He got a plate and transferred the bread to it. "Shit," he said, blowing on his fin