“Yes,” he admitted. “I said it terribly.”
I laughed through my tears.
So did he.
“What I really meant was that I never wanted you to live with the fear that without me, you would have nothing. I wanted you to know that one day, no matter what happened, you would be secure. Whether I was beside you or not.”
That was when I completely broke down.
I placed my head on his shoulder and cried.
For years, I had believed my husband was taking away my independence.
That day, I realized that in his clumsy, silent way, he had been preparing for the day when I would never have to depend on anyone.
Just before we left the bank, Robert opened his wallet, pulled out two hundred dollars, and handed it to me.
“What is this for?”
He smiled.
“Go buy that scarf you didn’t buy when you were shopping with Carol.”