James Black and Jane Sampson lived on the top floor, and since it was a weekend morning, there were quite a number of people heading downstairs. Among them were young people ready to go out for a leisurely stroll or shopping and elderly aunties and uncles, presumably like James and Jane, preparing to go out to buy groceries.
"Oh, arenāt you the young couple from the top floor of unit one?"
A middle-aged husband and wife entered just behind them, standing right in front of Jane and James. The auntie took several looks at James and hmmād, "I havenāt seen you for a long time, young man. You and your wife are divorced, arenāt you?"
The corners of Janeās lips in the mirror grinned more and more broadly, unable to hide her growing smile.
As they stood shoulder to shoulder, the elevator became more crowded. James, worried that someone might bump into Jane, almost enveloped her entirely in his arms.
Thus, Jane could not hide any of her actions, including the slightest expression, from Jamesās gaze.
"Is it that funny?" Jamesās voice, dark and foreboding, descended into her ears, and Janeās laughter stopped abruptly.
Instantly cowed.
And sensibly shaking her head no.
However, the auntie seemed not to notice the oddity between Jane and James and continued, "Back when the two of you got married and moved in here, we neighbors all said that the man was handsome and the woman was pretty, a perfect match. Itās a pity that it hasnāt been many years, and youāre already divorced."
The auntie sighed and then suddenly asked, "My girl, I remember you and your ex-husband didnāt have any children, did you? Thatās good, because divorce is easier when there are no children involved ā better for both of you."
"Look, isnāt it enough with your endless prying into other peopleās family affairs?" The uncle smiled apologetically at James, sensing instinctively that this girlās ex-husband was not someone to be trifled with.
The auntie became quiet after being chided by her husband, but still gave him a glare, looking at Jane and James with eyes full of pity.
Jane saw James with a stern face and she stood very properly in front of him too, daring not to make an extra gaze or show more expressions.
Not until the elevator reached the basement level, coincidentally, the middle-aged couple also came down to the basement to get their car.
Their parking spot was right next to Jamesās. As the auntie saw Jane preparing to get into Jamesās car, she couldnāt help but ask another question, "Are you just about to go get your divorce certificate?"
Cough cough cough.
Jane nearly choked on her own saliva.
"Didnāt get divorced," Jamesās voice was cold and firm, "My wife and I are quite fond of each other, and weāll have children sooner or later."
Finally, the auntie sensed the unapproachable coldness emanating from James.
But even upon hearing James say they hadnāt divorced, the auntie looked unconvinced.
"Really not divorced? If youāre not divorced, then why do your neighbors hardly ever see you around all year?" the auntie muttered softly, no longer as forceful as she was speaking earlier.
"Auntie, my husband and I really arenāt divorced," swore Jane, thinking that if she stood there smiling gleefully, James might just break her left hand.
"Heās just been busy with work," Jane explained.
Since they werenāt very familiar with these neighbors, Jane didnāt divulge that James was her defender.
The auntie uttered an "oh" and finally noticed that the couple was still holding hands. The auntie pursed her lips and then added, "Then I must have been mistaken; you two do seem very close, still holding hands and all."
After saying her piece, the auntie got into the car and left with her husband.
"Our neighbors all think weāre divorced?" James asked Jane.
Jane shrugged, "I donāt really interact with them much, so I wouldnāt know."
In fact, at least half of the neighbors thought she and James were divorced.