Page 11 of Little Bitter Truths
Inside, the hostess led us to a table near the window.
We took a seat, and a waiter dropped off a couple of menus and glasses of water, saying he’d give us a few minutes and then return to take our order.
“What would you like to know?”Cooper asked.
“Let’s start with your relationship with Wren.Why do you think the two of you separated?”
His expression softened.
“If I’m being honest, I think life got in the way.”
“That’s a broad answer.”
“I suppose it is, isn’t it?Over the last year or so, we started drifting apart.I was more wrapped up in work than usual, and so was she, and then one day it was like we were living together but not connecting anymore.”
“That’s similar to what Wren told Mia.”
He rested his hands on the table.“A few months ago, she told me she felt like we weren’t close anymore and that we behaved a lot more like roommates instead of husband and wife.”
“How did you react?”
“I tried to fix it at first.I thought back to the things we did when we met, and I made an effort to spend more time with her.I planned date nights and a weekend trip.”
“Did it help?”
“For a while,” he admitted.“But it didn’t last long.”
“Why not?”
“Things between us just felt … I don’t know … awkward.”
The waiter returned.“Can I get you started with drinks and something to eat?”
Cooper ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and a soda, and I chose a shredded beef salad and a glass of iced tea.
When the waiter walked away, Cooper continued.
“The separation wasn’t meant to be permanent,” he said.“At least not at first.We agreed to take some time apart to see how we felt.”
“A trial separation.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“How did you feel about that?”
“I worried that once we were apart, we’d drift even farther away from each other.”
I paused, then said, “That’s not what you told the police.”
He blinked at me.“What do you mean?”
“Chief Foley and Detective Whitlock told me you said the separation was mutual and that it had been the right decision.”
A flicker of discomfort crossed his face.“I suppose I did say those things.”
“I’m confused.Which version is the truth?The one you just told me, or the one you told them?”
He sighed, rubbing his hands together.“When the police came to see me, I’d just learned about what happened to Wren.Everything was a blur.I don’t remember half of what I said.What I meant by my statement was, if Wren wanted space, I was willing to give it to her.It didn’t mean I wanted our marriage to end.”
