Now a room full of strangers had seen what happened when I declined to obey him.

I could not make that memory disappear by apologizing.

Marcus, the waiter, returned with a second towel and a small glass of water.

He looked at the floor as he offered them.

“I should have said something when the orders were placed,” he murmured.

“Your husband asked whether we could put everything on one check even before you got here.”

“You didn’t know what he was planning,” I told him.