Page 72 of Unbreakable
Maureen made an “aww” face. “Jeannie, you know you’ll find your fit in Columbus.”
Jeanine’s eyes were fixed on her plate, pushing a piece of lettuce around. “I just don’t want them to gang up on me before they even know me. But it’s my fault anyway.”
“Show them you, sweetheart,” Joe said. “They’ll like what they see. And if they don’t, you don’t need ‘em anyway.”
I scooted my chair closer to her, put my arm around her shoulders, and kissed her cheek.
“Are you still taking meds?” Maureen asked quietly.
Jeanine shook her head and I squeezed her shoulder a little tighter. She was asking the questions I was too afraid to ask, fearing she'd lash out at me. I knew she wasn’t on meds anymore, but I knew suggesting them was a sensitive subject.
“You’re going through a lot right now,” Maureen pressed on.
“I know, Mom,” Jeannie said with a watery smile. “I appreciate the concern. I do.”
“Kiddo, you ran from home,” Joe added.
“I know what I did, Dad,” Jeanine said, an edge coming into her voice.
“We’re just trying to help, sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong with needing help.”
“So what, I’m the crazy one because I don’t like being ignored by my husband?” Jeanine scooted her chair back and threw her napkin on the table, preparing to stand. “Can’t anyone accept that this guy might be in the wrong?”
“I did screw up, Jeanine,” I said, backing her up and slowing her roll just a little. “I think I ignored the signs because I thought I had time to fix it. But ignoring you just made everything worse.”
Her lips pressed together and she stared into her lap. I took her hand with my free one. “It’s all so much.”
“I know, baby,” I said, wrapping her up in a hug.
“I’ll have to find a new doctor, a therapist,” she said.
“I’ll help you.”
“You don’t have time,” she argued.
“I’ll make time,” I said firmly. “There are people on the team to help with this stuff too. We’re not alone.”
“I don’t know if I want to start with the meds again. The side effects . . .” she started.
I held her by the shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. “We don’t have to decide that today, and I’m not making you do anything you don’t want to do.”
Joe and Maureen’s heads bobbed on the other side of the table, so I kept going.
“This move was hard on both of us. And I feel like I failed you because I saw you but I just thought . . . it would get better with time. I should have seen the signs. I should have known it was worse.”
Jeanine sniffled. “You could have said something.”
It was a little embarrassing that her parents were sitting there witnessing this big moment in our relationship, but I wanted her to feel like she had support too.
“I was afraid if I said something, we’d fall apart, Jeanine.”
“Well, we kinda did,” she said, swiping under her nose.
“Well . . .” I started, taking a moment to think. “Now we get to glue us back together. I’ve got a plan.”
She laughed again. “Glue me up, hockey boy.”
I got up earlythe next morning because there was something on my mind I needed to address. I wanted to catch Andy without Jeanine around. So, I didn’t mean to be lurking in the dark of the wine cellar, waiting for him to come to work, but it helped set the tone.
