The Goal

230

sincerely, "You've been a lot of fun to be around in the last few weeks."

"Thanks. The feeling is mutual," I say.

She takes my hand and says, "But... I'm sorry, Al. I'm still worried about coming home."

"Why? We're getting along a lot better now," I say, "What's the problem?"

"Look, we've had some good times for a change. And that's fine. I've really needed this time with you," she says. "But if we go back to living together, you know what's going to happen don't you? Everything will be fine for about two days. But a week from now we'll be having the same arguments. And a month later, or six months, or a year from now... well, you know what I mean."

I sigh. "Julie, was it that bad living with me?"

"Al, it wasn't bad ," she says. "It was just... I don't know. You weren't paying any attention to me."

"But I was having all kinds of problems in my job. I was really in over my head for awhile. What did you expect from me?"

"More than what I was getting," Julie says. "You know, when I was growing up, my father always came home from work at the same time. The whole family always ate together. He spent the evenings at home. With you, I never know what's going on."

"You can't compare me to your father," I say. "He's a den- tist. After the last tooth of the day is filled, he can lock up and go home. My business isn't like that."

"Alex, the problem is you are not like that," she says. "Other people go to work and come home at regular times."

"Yes, you're partially right. I am not like other people," I admit. "When I get involved in something, I really get involved. And maybe that has to do with the way 7 was brought up. Look at my family-we hardly ever ate together. Somebody always had to be minding the store. It was my father's rule: the business was what fed us, so it came first. We all understood that and we all worked together."

"So what does that prove except our families were differ- ent?" she asks. "I'm telling you about something that bothered me so much and for so long that I wasn't even sure if I loved you anymore."

"So what makes you sure you love me now?"