The Daughter In Law

“What the fuck happened in there?”

“Um…”

“None of your bullshit Vanessa I want the truth out of you.”

“What?” I started crying and I hadn’t even started telling him yet. Why was he acting like I’d been lying to him or something? “She was mean to me and pin. She was saying horrible stuff and…”

“So you thought it was okay to put your hands on her? That’s unacceptable, I wouldn’t let her do it to you and I won’t let you do it to her. You owe her an apology.”

My chest was concaved from me crying so hard. This was so unfair. Okay maybe I shouldn’t have hit her, but couldn’t he see how her pushing and provoking might lead me to do that? He had some other choice things to say about my behavior and I sat there like a child and let the words rain down like blows. I’d never felt so hurt and miserable in my life.

I listened as all the work I’d done in the last few weeks unraveled, because the spawn of Satan had convinced him somehow that it was my fault that she was suicidal. Luckily for me, I had a what the fuck moment right then and there in that parking lot. I dug down deep for the girl I use to be before I ever met this ass wipe and his family from the cast of a real trailer trash Jerry Springer show. I was remembering the girl that use to kick ass on the streets of Bensonhurst Brooklyn. The one who didn’t take shit from anybody because her daddy would level them, and their grandpa if they fucked with his baby girl. What the fuck had ever happened to her?

My mind started racing because I knew this was a pivotal moment right here.

“Fuck you. Fuck you and your prune faced bitch of a sea hag mother, and fuck your rot crotch slag of a sister. Take the apology you think she deserves, roll it up fine and shove it back in your mother’s vajayjay where apparently you just decided to go back to.” His mouth was hanging open like a landed trout.

I got out of the car cool as you please, fuck him; pin and I will just find our way to New York, he could stay here with the toxic waste.

“Vanessa get the fuck back in the car now.”

I kept waking because I was so done. I had no idea where I was going but I had money, I could call a cab to take me to the airport. Shit my carry on was in the trunk. Thank heaven that’s all the luggage we’d taken because I’d planned to shop in the city and I needed the room. Oh well that was shot now.

The idiot man got out and wrestled me back into the car. I didn’t say a word to him even when he was staring holes in my head. Then he really lost his shit and started pounding his fists into the steering wheel. I buffed my nails.

“Take me to the airport please.”

“What? we can’t go now we’ve missed our flight.”

“My mom got us new ones, you can stay here if you want but me and pin are going.”

“Vanessa…”

“Just because you stuck your head back up your mother’s snatch doesn’t mean I have to. Now either you take me or I call a cab.” He punched the wheel again and pulled off.

I was so scared and sick on the way there I didn’t know what to think. If he didn’t come with me I knew I was going to be mad at him for a long long time. It really stuck in my craw that she’d won after all. I hated her so much in that moment it was hard to believe. When we got back to the parking dock I got out to of the car and got my carry-on after he popped the trunk. “Wait.” I stood next to the trunk and waited as he came around and got his.

I took my first easy breath. Then he put his hand in the small of my back and led me along. I was beginning to feel better by the minute. We didn’t say anything as we sat and waited for another hour or so for our flight to be called. I spent the time worrying about what was going to become of my marriage and how I was going to get through this pregnancy without him if it came to that. The thought of losing him made me hurt so bad I wanted to cry but I held off.

When we boarded he once again had his hand on my back; that one little piece of contact felt like manna to a starving soul.

After we were seated and belted in he turned and studied me for the longest while without saying a word. Oh shit he’s gonna tell me that we’re through. Instead he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me, and for some twisted reason the floodgates opened up. “Shh, baby come on it’s okay.” He unhooked me and pulled me into his lap and I held on like a lifeline. He rubbed me and soothed me, and all I could think was, if that horse face flight attendant said anything about buckling your seatbelts I was going to knock her ass out midflight. We hadn’t taken off yet though so no one said anything.