She nodded slowly and went back upstairs without saying anything else. At 7:00, I heard a car door slam in the driveway. Heavy footsteps crossed the porch. Then the pounding started. My husband’s fist hit the door so hard the frame shook. He was yelling my name and demanding I let him in. He said I was being crazy and unreasonable and he just wanted to talk.
The pounding got louder. He kicked the door twice. I heard him swearing and then his voice got closer to the door like he was pressing his face against it. He said I couldn’t do this to him and he lived here and I was going to regret making him look like a fool. Lily appeared in my bedroom doorway.
Her face was pale and her hands were shaking. I pulled her inside and closed the door. We sat on my bed listening to him rage on the front porch. He pounded and yelled for 20 minutes straight. Then everything went quiet. I heard his car start and the sound of gravel crunching as he backed out of the driveway too fast.