Behind Every Good Man

by Sara Goodman Confino

For an interminable moment, I stood there, frozen to the spot. Then the moment ended. “Ahem,” I said loudly. Larry jumped, and I heard the sound of Linda slamming her head into his desk. “Beverly,” Larry said, fumbling to fasten his pants. “I—uh—Linda was just—” “Taking dictation?” I asked drily. He started muttering inanities, but I shook my head and walked out.

Men liked to feel independent even if you couldn’t trust them to get the details right.

“Mama told me once that behind every good man was an even better woman,” I said quietly. Anna turned to look at me. “You know full well he wouldn’t be anywhere without you. And Michael wouldn’t be here without me. It seems a shame to just let them make all the decisions after we put them in the room.”