“What?” she asks on a whisper.
“She wanted to know if he did certain things for you that he didn’t do for her. I don’t know how it happened, but it just did, and then our conversations got deeper. We spoke every single day. And every single day, she got stronger and stronger, except she refused to leave the house.”
“I don’t understand,” Hailey says.
“Her in-laws started treating her differently when she started to question things. She is actually a ward of the state. She grew up and had no one till she met Eric.” I stop talking to see if she is still up to it. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
“I’m fine.” She motions with her hand for me to continue.
“Anyway, they took her in and treated her like she was family until she started pointing out that it wasn’t your fault that Eric cheated. That it was Eric’s fault.” I stop, not sure I should repeat the rest. “They told her if she was woman enough or wife enough, he wouldn’t have gone elsewhere.”
The gasp of shock comes from both Jensen and Hailey, but I don’t stop. “It gets better or worse, depending on how you look at it. She found a letter.”
Hailey sits up straight. “It was a brown envelope. He left his confession of cheating on her along with the picture of you two on your wedding day.”
“Oh my God,” she says, putting her hand to her mouth. “Yeah, and if that wasn’t enough, he basically told her that she made him, but you completed him.”
“Asshole,” Jensen says while Hailey just looks down and shakes her head.
“I can’t even imagine,” she says and looks up. “I don’t understand.”
“It gets worse,” my father finally says. “Her in-laws are suing her for custody of the girls.” Jensen gets up now and storms out of the house, slamming the door. “Um,” my father says, “perhaps I should make sure he doesn’t do anything that will need my assistance.”
“Surely, they can’t take the kids away from her,” Hailey says. “That’s crazy.”
“They are out for blood,” my mother says, getting up and going to her. “They are also kicking her out of the house and tried to seize all her accounts.”
“What?” I say, shocked at the last part.
“She didn’t want to worry you, but they blocked all her accounts even the one she transferred money into. Luckily, she went every day and took out a little bit at a time because she would be stuck with nothing and two girls to feed.”
“I don’t understand what this has to do with me?” Hailey asks just when my father walks in the door with a red-faced Jensen who goes to Hailey and kisses her lips.
“I don’t know how to ask for this, but she has no one. And Dad doesn’t want to put me on the stand. All she has is herself and the letter that Eric …”
“NO!” Jensen says, yelling. “No fucking way is she going in that courtroom.”
I don’t say anything because I would probably be the same way. “I love her with my whole soul,” I start slowly. “I never thought I would be able to love again, but she fixed my broken.” I get down in front of Hailey, taking her hands. “And I want to fix her broken. I want the girls to be happy and not live in fear that someone is going to take them away from their mother. I want her to be able to go to the store without feeling shame or fear.”
“She has no one.” My mother looks at Hailey. “She came and sat in your father’s office with the world on her shoulders. She walks with her head down and her shoulders slumped.” My mother looks at me. “I noticed when we went to the courthouse. Then she almost shrunk into the floor at the restaurant.”
“What do you mean?” Jensen asks.
“She’s so afraid of running into her in-laws that she barely leaves the house. She googles paint colors, so she can bring sunshine into her house. She has her fucking groceries delivered by Amazon, for fuck’s sake.”
“Amazon delivers food?” my mother asks, and my father just shakes his head.
“Hailey, I know you don’t have to do this, and I hate myself for even putting you in this place, especially after everything that she put you through.”
“She didn’t do that,” my mother says loud and proud. “She did none of that.”
“The only one who can help is you. Eric spoke to you about his family or lack thereof.” I get up. “It’s the best shot we have.”
“You love her,” Hailey finally says, getting up and coming to me. “You really, really love her and not because you want to save her, but because she fixed your broken?”
“Yes”—I nod—“with everything I have, I love her. I would carry all her worries on my shoulders. I would step into the ring with the devil for her.”