Page 81 of Unbreakable
“Missedyou more than ever this time,” I said, tucking Jeanine into my body in the bed. We’d just had our late-night reunion sex after the team got home from the road trip.
“I missed you too, Dyl.” We hummed, squeezing each other a little tighter. Her face went stony, chewing her lip and looking away from me.
“What is it, J?”
“You might want to call your mom.”
I drew my head back. “What happened?”
“We may have fought when I got home. I threw her out.”
I winced. “I was afraid of that. I really didn’t want her to lay into you.”
“Well, she did. She said I abandoned you. That I’ve conned you into staying with me.”
“Jesus. You know none of that’s true, right?” Jeanine nodded. I propped up on my elbow so I could look deeper into Jeanine’s eyes. “I didn’t want to break our bubble in California, but I see what you mean now about her being so harsh. I actually got into a fight with her the day she got here.”
“You did?” Jeannie’s fingers idly combed through my chest hair.
“I told her she had to choose whether to respect you or lose us both. All because she was griping about you not cleaning the refrigerator shelves. So what did she say to you?”
“Well?” Her voice was a high-pitch squeak. “She kinda came out guns blazing when I got home, so I decided to shoot straight. I told her she’d never been nice to me, and I asked what her end game was.”
“And what did she say to that?”
Jeanine looked up into my eyes. “She said all I do is weigh you down. That I’m a head case who coerced you into having children with me. Essentially, that I trapped you so I could leach on you.”
I flopped back on the pillow and Jeannie curled up on my chest. “Fuck.”
“Yes, that.”
“I don’t know what else to do. I think I have to cut her off. I’m glad she could be here when we needed help, but that doesn’t give her the right to abuse you. And who knows what she says to the kids.”
“She said our kids clearly need a heavier hand,” Jeannie said.
“Jesus, fuck.”
Jeannie’s eyes moved over me. “It’s your decision. I’m not pushing you either way. She’s your mom. But I do reserve the right to protect myself and our kids from her wrath.”
“I at least need a break from her. I’m afraid if I fully cut her out, I’ll lose Dad too. But I can’t let her keep hurting you. I can’t keep hurting you, letting her go at you like that. It hurts me that she has so much animosity toward you.” I shook my head. “I need to think about it, but I need to do something.”
“This means a lot to me, Dyl. I know this isn’t easy for you.”
I kissed her hairline and tightened my arm around her shoulder. She had a lot to gain from me cutting my mom out, but she didn’t push me. That’s how I knew mentally she was in a somewhat stable place. This is probably how Jeanine felt leaving me, like you don’t know how to show them what they’re missing unless you’re gone. But was I really ready to take such a drastic step with Ma?
I was proud of her for sticking up for what she needed, even if it hurt me.
Because something our marriage couldn’t endure anymore was hidden feelings.
It wastime for me to put The Plan into effect. I only had a few one-off away games before Christmas. I’d mostly be home, and able to help Jeannie more frequently.
Jeanine wasn’t wrong to doubt whether or not I actually had a plan. Most of the time, I wouldn’t. But I put some thought into this one. I had to work around school plays and art shows and games for me and the kids, but I put in three different occasions that were just for us.
I was also going to make every effort to show up to the kids’ holiday events. I could help her with getting the kids ready for them.
Here was The Plan:
1. Cook Jeannie a special dinner for a date night in
