But he knew exactly what kind of person that woman was, yet he couldn't understand how such a tiny human could be so stubborn. He was a man, why couldn't she just back down first? If only she'd lower her head a little, would he have acted that way?
Forget it! It's not shameful for a big guy to make the first call, he told himself.
Besides, no matter what happened, she was still his wife, and there was nothing a couple couldn't talk through behind closed doors, certainly no hurdle too big to overcome.
With his resolve strengthened, he repeatedly dialed the number, climbing down the ladder he had built for himself, but the calls that went through were never answered, crushing the hard-won humility he had managed to muster as he watched the streets slide past the car window.
His heart grew even heavier.
Finally, it fell silent.
Forget it, one more try. This time the voice on the line said, "Hello, the number you have dialed is busy..."
