“
Right. A man's gotta work to take care of his family, otherwise he ain't no man. My father worked two, sometimes three jobs. We didn't have everything we wanted, but he made sure that his kids had what they needed.”
“That's exactly what I'm talking about. This whole mentality you have about it.”
“What you talking 'bout woman.”
“That mentality that says, as long as the bills are paid then everything is all good.”
“Well ain't it?”
“No, Garrett, it ain't all good. Not for us. Not for me. I feel like a prisoner in this house and a slave to the children.”
“Nobody told you that you had to sit here all day, talking on the phone, watching them stupid soap operas and that got-damn meddling ass Oprah Winfrey. That's probably what this is about. What, was that the topic of yesterdays show?”
“Oprah doesn't have anything to do with this! This is about us, Garrett, you and me!”
“All right, Paven, all right. We're not gonna get where we need to be by yelling at each other. I'm sorry if I haven't been here, I'll do better, Paven. I'll work less and spend some more time here with you and the kids, I promise.”
“Garrett, this ain't the first time we've talked about this. And every time you promise me that you'll change. That you'll spend some time with your children and pay me some attention. And we get dinner and a movie, once. Then it’s back to the same old Garrett.”
“This time—-”
“And you always say, 'this time baby things will be different', but they never are. So what's gonna make this time any different from the last this time?”
“This time I know you're serious,” Garrett laughed.
“This ain't no joke, Garrett,” Paven said and took a swing at him. “I need some time away from you, away from this house to think about what I'm gonna do. I need to do something for myself. I don't do anything for me.”
“So what, you want a divorce now?”
“I don't know. I just need some time to sort things out. To decide what I want to do for myself. And you need to think about whether you want to be an active member of this family.”
“We can both do that right here. Let's try to work this out together. In the same house. Why you gotta leave?”
Paven got up from the table. “I just have to, Garrett.”
“I love you, Paven.”
“I love you, too, Garrett. That's why I have to go,” Paven said and walked out the house. Garrett followed her out to the car.
“Can I at least call you?”
“Of course you can call me, Garrett. I expect you to call. Your children are there. I would be very disappointed in you if you didn't call and talk to your children. I need to know that you want to be a part of your children's lives.”
“Do you have any money?”
“I'll be alright.”
“No,” Garrett said reaching in his pocket. “I ain't gonna have my family freeloading on nobody.” Without bothering to count it, Garrett handed Paven all the money he had on him. “That should hold you a while. Should be about three hundred there. I'll bring you some more tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Garrett.”
“For what?”
“For not making this ugly.”
Paven got in the car and drove away. Leaving Garrett standing alone in the driveway wondering how he ever let things go that far.