Novel

Renee’s parents had been shocked when she told them she was leaving Greg. She’d never mentioned a word to them about their problems, trying to protect them from the unpleasant knowledge of their daughter’s failures as a wife and the reality that their son-in-law was a jackass. Though they weren’t Catholics like Greg’s parents, divorce was still rare among their circle. Initially, they’d worked to talk her out of the divorce, even tried to persuade her to seek counseling. That had been Greg’s doing.

Somehow, he’d convinced her parents that she’d become a different person. A selfish, jealous, unhappy wife and mother. Of course he’d blamed their problems on her. He tried to tell them she had been abusing drugs and even needed to be rehabbed. Renee had been furious when she realized the lies Greg had told about her. She’d known he was desperate to hang on but hadn’t thought he’d sink so low. It had taken all her powers of persuasion to convince her parents that Greg had been lying to everyone.
“Mother, how could you take his side over mine? You are MY mother!”
“Renee, we just want what’s best for you and the girls. We love you and Greg and Missy and Michele. Let us help you!” her mother had cried tearfully. Her father stared at the floor, unable or unwilling to participate in the conversation. Renee felt his shame and rage washed over her.
“Daddy, you believe all those lies? You honestly think I am lying to you?” she called to him, intentionally drawing him into the fray.
“I don’t know what to believe, Renee. Nothing is what we thought it was. You aren’t the person we used to know”, quietly, slowly, painfully. He wouldn’t meet her eyes and she stood, glaring angrily at him.
“Daddy, please. I need you. I can’t do this without you. Think of the girls. Daddy, look at me!” intentionally standing directly in front of him so he had to turn his head away to avoid her gaze.
“Renee, maybe just for a while. Go to that hospital and they will make you better. It won’t take long. We’ll take the girls until you are home” her mother had pleaded, agony in her voice.
Ignoring her mother, Renee gently reached up and turned her father’s face towards her “Daddy. Please. I am your only child. Your daughter. Your baby. I am in trouble and I need you. Please believe me” speaking softly and only to him. Her mother sobbed uncontrollably from across the room.
“You promise me? They are all lies? The drugs, the tantrums, the other men? All those stories he told us are lies?” he questioned, finally looking deeply into her eyes.
She met his stare and held it “Yes Daddy. I promise. I need you to believe me”.
“I do, Renee, I do” hugging her tightly. Her mother walked over to them and encircled them both with her arms. Renee still felt hurt when she remembered that afternoon. Something had changed between her and her parents that day, something that would never be the same again.