Stability

“Jean, like denim, not French,” is how Jean Modi had introduced himself to Truly during their first year of university. 

It was how he had introduced himself to everyone during his undergraduate performing arts program and his master’s program in theater education. Until two years later, when Truly entered graduate school and Jean had anointed himself, “Mr. Truly Devereaux,” as a half-joking method of warding off any classmates with designs on his new bride.

Jean’s middle school improv teacher’s salary was no match for the offers Truly was already receiving to become a first-year consultant. And with a spouse at home, Truly’s late nights outside of work would be kept to a minimum. But Hallie calculated that Jean, unlike Truly, came from just enough first-wave family money to provide a safety net for the relatively newly weds. Yet Jean’s parents' disdain for Truly’s poor, unfortunate background could prevent that net from appearing.