Ben's entire body seemed to stiffen, like he'd suffered a slap across the face. The spasm went all the way to his fingertips, which he removed from the table and dug into his knees. Was the woman across from him--his wife, for goodness sake, incapable of forgiveness?
He lowered his head. He could see his reflection in the bread plate, and he took a cold hard look.
"But only for a moment, Juliet," he said, voice low but firm. His slowly raised his face. "A moment of weakness, in the midst of a grueling tour, a new course, and a particularly difficult new patient. Yes, I did something stupid. I went a little crazy." He didn't bring up the dreams, he figured he didn't have to. "Do you want to help me, or is what I did completely unforgivable. Because if you're done with me, please tell me right now."
His voice was even and steady through out, until hte last few words, when there was a terrible croaking in his throat, which he fought until there were tears in his eyes.