Chapter 5 - I take the girls and leave
I did not stay at the Hayes house.
Neither did my daughters.
Michael expected us to return home with him.
I said no.
He stared.
“Emily.”
“You grabbed me.”
“I was trying to stop you making a scene.”
“Exactly.”
He looked away.
“My mother humiliated the girls.”
“I know.”
“You defended her.”
“I was trying to keep dinner from becoming chaos.”
“Then Dad walked in and saw what you chose.”
He flinched.
“Your father punched me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s acceptable?”
“No.”
He looked surprised.
I continued:
“Your mistake does not become okay because his was worse or louder.”
He said:
“I didn’t hit you.”
“You physically stopped me from leaving.”
“I held your arm.”
“Against my will.”
Silence.
Then Megan walked over.
Her dress had been changed.
She looked at Michael.
“Daddy?”
His face softened immediately.
“Baby.”
She did not go to him.
“Grandma mean.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
There it was.
No adult answer convenient enough.
“I don’t know.”
I took the girls to my father’s hotel suite that night.
Not permanently.
Just out.
Michael slept at our home alone.
Jessica stayed in the family house.
May you like
The distance changed everything.
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