I nearly laughed.
On the monitor, Elias stood helplessly before the executives, unable to produce one of his usual clever responses.
Margaret inhaled deeply.
“Finish your presentation, Elias. I’d like to see the rest.”
He looked horrified.
“Of course.”
His voice shook as he hurried through the remaining financial data. Each time he advanced a slide, he glanced nervously at the screen.
Eventually, he reached the conclusion.
**WHAT FIVE YEARS CAN DO TO A WOMAN**
Below the heading appeared a sentence I recognized immediately.
“Honestly, man, if I met her today, I wouldn’t even ask her out. She’s aged so much in just five years.”
Underneath was a photograph of our family from our youngest child’s first birthday.
Silence filled the conference room.
Margaret slowly turned to Elias.
“Is that your wife?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
“And those are your children?”
He nodded.
“Did you actually say those words?”
