I'm his wife. His Wife."
I sat down beside her and used the wash cloth to clean her tear streaked face.
"Just don't call him anymore. I'm going to go talk to him. I want him out of this house Mama."
She sniffed sitting still while I washed her face as if she were the child.
"You think I should divorce him?"
"Yes Mama, I do. He's sleeping with someone else. He doesn't deserve you. You're better than that." She nodded and reached up to grab my wrist and pulled my hand to her mouth and kissed it. "I love you Marcus Hardy. You're my good boy. Always taking care of me and your sister. You're nothing like your daddy. You know that don't you?"
There was my Mom. Even if it was for a brief moment I needed that little bit of motherly affection. Knowing she was still in there under all this hurt and pain eased my fear still in there under all this hurt and pain eased my fear some.
"I know that," I assured her allowing her to take the wash cloth from my hand so she could wipe her nose.
"God Marcus how did this happen? Where did it all go wrong?" she asked in a defeated tone dropping her hands into her lap.
"The minute Dad lost his mind I guess. I'm going to go talk to him. Don't wait up for him tonight Mama. I'm going to tell him I'll bring him his clothes but I don't want him back on the property."
"Oh honey is that the best idea? What if he realizes this was a mistake? Do I really just end twenty five years of marriage over this?"
"Yes Mama you do! The bastard cheated on you. He is cheating on you. You're so much better than that Mama.
Don't you let him win. Don't do it."
I hated seeing her this way. She really thought Dad would change his mind and come back to her. Maybe he would when his little girlfriend left him or began to get on his nerves. But then there would be another one just like her somewhere waiting to take her place.
"Mama, listen," I pleaded taking her cold soft hands in mine,
"You need to divorce him. Take everything you possibly can by law. Clean him dry. Do you hear me? He is using his money on that slut. Get what he owes you and he owes you everything Mama."
She straightened up and nodded her head in agreement.
Thank God I'd gotten through to her.
"You're right honey. I need to make him pay." Good. I could see the revenge flashing in her eyes. At least it wasn't pain. Let her be mad as hell. Let her suck him dry.
That's the tough as nails woman who raised me. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, "I love you Mama. We're going to get through this. You're not alone. Don't push Manda away either. She needs you right now. The two of you need to eat a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream and watch movies together. Bond over this Mama. Don't let him win."
Standing up Mama reached out and squeezed my hand.
"You're right. I'm stronger than this. My baby girl needs her Mama. As long as I have you to lean on I can do this Marcus."
"Well you've got me. Now, why don't you get out of your pajamas and come make me some breakfast because I'm starving."
Hearing her laughter was music to my ears.
Willow
It was Spring Break season so the tourist had begun flooding Sea Breeze. Which was a good thing because tips were double their norm. I'd already made two hundred dollars and that was mostly from the lunch crowd. The evening crowd was just beginning to pick up. On nights when the bar side of Live Bay has a relatively known band the restaurant suffers some. Families looking for a nice seafood restaurant are put off by the packed out parking lot. They don't realize it's for the bar side. Tonight however crowds were low at the bar so the restaurant was hopping with tourists.
"Low, can you take a four top in section C for Macy? She said she can't handle any more in her section. That twelve top party is consuming her."
I nodded my head at Kim, the hostess for the evening and went to grab some waters and a bowl of lemons before heading to their table.
"Hey you still looking for someone to close for you?" she asked me as I turned to walk away. I glanced back at her,
"Yep."