He'd expected her to jump at the chance, so was momentarily unsure what to say in the face of resistance. She had to recognize that spending the holiday apart was better for appearances than bringing all... this into his brothers' home and just hoping they didn't notice. They were going to notice. Ben picked up his wine glass and swirled the red liquid around as though he were going to drink it, but didn't. With so much bottled up tension in his stomach, he thought even a glass might make him nauseous.

"Even happy wives get sick sometimes," he said, tone neutral.