I Finally Did It

I saw W knock TK down just weeks after Bear had told me we could live in his house. What an amazing thing to offer. Of course I didn't take it seriously when he said it. We hadn't known each other but a few months. He didn't even ask for a commitment. But, it was that offer that first made me really think about this man. As we contintued to talk on the phone, I really started to fall for him. His divorce wasn't final and I hadn't even left my husband, and I was considering taking my son into a situation I didn't even approve of. What a strange time it was.

I went up to talk to my Mother. I was so sure she would tell me how foolish I was being. She had a million questions, but to my amazement she was so relieved I was considering leaving W that she wasn't even against us moving in with a man she hadn't met. I knew my parents hated W. They had ever since the aneurysm when he took me back out to work on the cabin after we were warned it could kill me. The only warning Mom gave me was to remind me how bad my judgement was when it came to men. Dad came home during our talk, and as soon as he walked in, Mom told him I was ready to leave W. I will never forget his reaction. "It's about G... D..... time!" He shocked me. I'd never heard him cuss. I knew he did. He was a W W ll paratrooper after all. But, Dad was the old school that never swore in "mixed company," and that included his wife and daughter. I'd expected a lecture from them and received absolute support. It gave me more to think about.

My next step was to ask TK if he would come with me or stay with his Father if I left. He didn't even hesitate. He wanted to leave. That also surprised me. I've only just learned, after all these years, that his Father had been giving him a worse time then I knew. Maybe not aggressively abusive, but enough to make TK want out of the situation. It was enough to finally convince me I was out of options. One way or another, it was time to end the marriage.

I took the easy way out. I asked Bear again if he was sure he wanted us to move in. I still wasn't ready to promise this man I would ever marry him. At that time, I never wanted to marry again. But, I did promise to always be honest with him. He gave me the same promise. I'd commited myself to do something I never would have believed myself capable of. I took my son and myself out of a mentally (for both of us) and physically (for TK) abusive situation and into an immoral one.

I planned to tell W the following weekend when we actually moved. After JT had gone back to Toledo. But, for the first time in our marriage he confronted me first. I couldn't believe he wanted to face something. It was a Wednesday afternoon when he told me he knew I was up to something. I told him I was leaving, and TK had decided to go with me. There wasn't even an argument then. He just walked away. There was an odd expression on his face, but he never even tried to talk me out of it. He went to work as if nothing had happened. I stayed up till he got back home, but he wouldn't talk. Once again he was ignoring what he didn't want to face. Or so it seemed. What he was thinking and planning was going to shock me beyond belief. Our real "soap opera" was just starting.