It's been a few months since the narrator and his wife got married, and the narrator asks his wife how she's doing. She tells him that they're doing well, but that she wishes she had more time to get to know him. The narrator tells her that he's not a fool, and that he still remembers feeling embarrassed when he saw that "lipstick mark" on his wife's dress on their wedding day. He wants to marry Aaron, but he doesn't want to give Aaron too much of a chance. He's afraid that if he does, he'll get into trouble with Aaron's family and friends, and Aaron won't like it. He also says that he can't give his wife the sense of security that she needs if she marries someone like Aaron.