Page 43 of Our Promise
“Lorielle.” He didn’t even look up at her. “I can’t right now. I just want to be alone.”
A month after they got married, she moved into his house. When she did, he told her his house was finally a home. Yet, over the last two weeks, it hadn’t felt like much of a home. Benny had barely been there, and when he was, it was to shower and sleep.
“Benny, let me be there for you. This can’t be how we start our marriage off.”
“A marriage you really didn’t want to be in,” he snapped.
She recoiled. Yes, she had been a little hesitant about their relationship, but she jumped into their marriage with an open mind and heart. “What?”
“Nothing. Lorielle, I told you, not right now. Go home, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No, I heard you, and what you’re not about to do is throw that in my face. Ever since I said yes, I’ve put my past asideand showed up for our marriage. I know you’re going through something, but you don’t get to push me away.”
He sighed. “All I’m asking for is time.”
“It’s been two weeks.”
“Well, it’s not enough time!” he yelled. “What? Are you ready to throw in the towel? How long did you give your ex-husband time to find out he wasn’t really in love with you? Two, three years? You stayed in a marriage you knew wasn’t working for way too long, and I can’t even get two weeks without you ready to call it quits.”
“Fuck you, Benny, and I bet I won’t make that same mistake.”
She raced to her car. For the first time, Benny didn’t chase after her, and that cut her deeper than his words.
“Elle, listen to me.”Jo followed Lorielle around as she gathered everything she owned and tossed it in various bags.
“You can say whatever you want, Jo, but I’m still leaving. One thing I learned was to leave at the first sign of disrespect.”
“Is my brother’s behavior disgusting? Yes! Does he deserve grace? Yes… Come on, you know this is not how marriage works. He’s going through a lot, and he needs you more now than ever.”
Lorielle shook her head. “This was a mistake. I knew this was going to happen. I knew he would switch up!” She slammed some clothes into a bag.
“He’s just going through something right now. This hit our family hard.”
“Is it so bad to where he can’t be civil? He said some hurtful things.”
“He didn’t mean it, Elle. Benny loves you more than life.”
“You don’t get it! He let me walk away.” Lorielle dropped to the bed, dropping her face in her palms.
Benny always came for her. He was always there.
Jo sat beside her, rubbing her back in firm circles. “I know it hurts. I know. Soon he’s going to realize how stupid he’s been acting.”
“I just want my husband back.”
“You hear that, Elle? Your husband. This is just a rough patch. It’s easy to stay when things are good. It’s when trouble comes that really tests your relationship. Now, if you genuinely believe Benny is not the man you thought he was, then I’ll help you pack, but if he’s the man that you know and love then wait it out. I promise there’s a big, bright light at the end of this tunnel.”
Jo gave her a lot to think about.
Chapter
Eleven
Your Protector, Your Best Friend
“She’s gone.”
Those were his sister’s words when he came home. She had a few other choice words as well, but he didn’t hear any of them. Elle was gone.
