"She knows it's beautiful and it's grown a foot and a half longer since we joined the church.  That's my wife.  Not much over a year ago we lived together about like bad-tempered dogs.  She was jealous... and I was inattentive.  Bored.  Hell, we were both bored and only our kids kept us together - that and her possessiveness; I knew she would never let me go without a fight and a scandal... and I didn't have any stomach for trying to put together a new marriage at my age, anyhow.  So I got a little on the side, when I could get away with it - a college professor has many temptations, few safe opportunities - and Ruth was quietly bitter.  Or sometimes not so quiet.  And then we joined up." Sam grinned happily. "And I fell in love with my own wife.  Number-one gal friend."