Scraps of paper drifted to the floor. I sat there as if standing on a sheet of ice, my whole body trembling.
My eyes stung. I turned my head away, swallowing the pain.
"Elaine. Let's get a divorce."
The vast living room sank into silence.
The thought had crossed my mind more times than I could count.
But saying it out loud was a first.
"Over this? You're bringing up divorce?"
"Charles, are you looking for problems where there aren't any? Everything I do is for this family..."
"For this family?"
I cut her off and stood, looking down at her.
"Elaine, can you honestly say any of this has been for this family?"
"If it was really for this family, would you have been drinking so much you miscarried?"
Elaine stared at me in disbelief, her mouth hanging open, unable to form a single word.
Elaine and I had been classmates in college. She was beautiful, a straight-A student, could sing, could dance—the kind of girl who turned every head in the room.
That she'd chosen me out of all the guys chasing her was something I never expected.
Everyone said I'd hit the jackpot, getting picked by Elaine Henson.
Even I believed that.