By BethShelby
Trenton had left for the office already, when Marsha rose from a restless night’s sleep. She threw on her silk robe and slippers and made her way to the kitchen. She needed to make sure the children got off to school on time. Latisha was in the kitchen putting the kids' cereal bowls into the dishwasher. The girls were dressed and arguing with each other over the name of some TV actress they had seen recently. Timothy was dressed but still eating.
“Latisha, did Trenton eat anything before he left this morning?”
“No ‘am Miss Marsha, he said he had a bad headache, and he’d pick up something later. I speck he might have been a bit hung over. He was kind of red-eyed.”
“Yeah, he might have been. He probably had too much to drink last night. He’s under a lot of pressure at the firm. All the partners go out together after work and discuss strategy on some of the major cases, while they’re enjoying a few drinks. I looked at the clock when I heard him come in last night. It was after four.”
“Miss Marsha, it ain’t none of my business, but are you sure he was still at the bar that late? I got a daughter who bar tends. I didn’t think none of them bars stayed open that late. Like I say, it ain’t my business, and I don’t need to be upsetting you, but if it was me, I’d be checking on what time they close."
“Oh, Latisha, do you think I’ve got a reason not to trust him? What do you think he’s doing with his time? Stepping out on me? I know he drinks too much, but I’ve never given him a reason to cheat. I trust my husband.”
“Yes‘m, I’m sure Mister Trenton loves you. He might of had to go back to the office and finish up on something.”
Marsha felt a sudden anxious flutter. To heck with Latisha. Just because her husband cheated on her, she doesn’t trust men. It really isn’t any of her business. Trenton is crazy about me. He says I’m the best-looking wife of all the partners at the firm. I’m smart and educated. When we go to the cocktail parties the firm is always having, he is the one who is jealous of me when he thinks one of the partners is paying too much attention to me. I just need to ignore her and not let anything she says get to me.
“Kids, your ride is here. Go on now. Don’t keep Mrs. Franklin waiting. Joey! Where’s Joey? Oh, there you are, son. Don’t forget you have a dental appointment later. Go on now, and have a good day. I’ll pick you up after school to take you to your appointment.”
“Latisha, I’ll just have some coffee and a piece of toast. I’ve kind of got a headache too. I need to hurry. I’ve got a meeting at ten with the local art committee chairman. She wants to put one of my paintings in the exhibit.”
As the day wore on, Marsha tried to keep Latisha’s earlier conversation out of her mind. It had never occurred to her to question the hours Trenton kept. He had told her, "You know things will change now that I'm a partner. I'll probably have to work some late hours. I'm going to be expected to fit in with their way of doing things. You know it is important they considered me a team player."
It made sense and she had gone along with it wanting him to succeed. She’d assumed the bars stayed open all night. Now, she felt she had to know for sure so she could relax. Her mind traveled to her friend Carman. She would know. She was single and dating again. She remembered Carman had mentioned seeing Trenton and one of the law partners at a bar. On the other hand, she could simply call the bar Trenton often mentioned and ask what time they closed.
In the end, she decided calling the bar was the best option. There was no reason to give her friend a chance to ask why she wanted to know. She picked up her phone and keyed in the number. The answer to her question didn’t give her the relief she had hoped. The bar closed at two a.m. No drinks were sold after 1:30 a.m. There had to be another explanation as to why he was coming home at four in the morning. Except for his recent excessive drinking, which was likely due to the stress of more responsibility, they had what she considered a near perfect marriage.
She’d never doubted Trenton loved her. They were sexually compatible. She enjoyed the physical side of their relationship as much as he did. She knew he was proud of her. He always complimented her taste in clothes and insisted she was the best hostess when they entertained. She had heard him brag to his friends about her artistic talents.
Lately, his excessive drinking was becoming a problem. He had a susceptibility to alcoholism in his DNA. His father had been an alcoholic. This might be something they would need to address if it continued, but surely there was no indication he would ever cheat on her. Still, she couldn’t shake the anxious feeling. Something wasn’t right. Had she been too naïve to question Trenton? Had she been too secure in her own feeling of self-worth to believe his pride in her would prevent him from risking losing her by daring to cheat?
She let her mind drift back to the time when she and Trenton had first met. It was her first year as an art teacher in Pensacola. She and her friend, Janet, were sharing an apartment. Janet had talked her into going to a dance attended by some guys from the local Air Force base. Trenton had singled her out right away. Some of the other guys were showing an interest in her as well. He had almost gotten into a fight when another guy was coming on too strong. After that night, the two of them spent a lot of time together.
By Christmas, Trenton’s time in Pensacola was coming to a close and he wasn’t sure where he would be going next. He wanted to get married before he was sent overseas. Marsha was torn. She’d hoped for more teaching time on her resume. However, some incidents had happened at her school, making her question the wisdom of continuing to teach at a place where threats had been made by a student. She had caused him to lose his football scholarship by giving him a failing grade for not attending class. Her tires had been slashed as result.
Also, she questioned whether or not she loved Trenton deeply enough and if she was ready for marriage. After giving the proposal some serious thought, she decided he was the one. He was nice looking, very intelligent, and able to converse on any subject. She enjoyed his company, and he certainly seemed smitten over her.
Not long after the wedding, she realized she was pregnant, and Trenton was about to be sent to Germany. She decided it was in her best interest to move in with her parents until the baby was born.
When Trendon’s tour of duty ended and he came home for good, their son, Keith, was eight months old. The first great tragedy of her life occurred when she went in to check on Keith to find him unresponsive. Her previously healthy little boy was pronounced dead of SIDs. She and Trenton were heartbroken, but they were able to put the pieces of their life back together and plan their next move. Since Trenton was ambitious and brainy, Marsha envisioned a bright future for the two of them. It would involve further education for him. Knowing that lawyers have a high-income potential, she persuaded him to attend Duke Law school in Virginia.
They were fortunate that Marsha’s parents were able and willing to help with the expenses. Marsha had planned to support him by teaching, but she was pregnant again. They had both hoped for more children so she was thrilled. Those were lean years in which she learned how to budget and to make do on less while Trenton completed his degree.
By the time he graduated, they had a girl and a boy and she was pregnant yet again. Trenton was offered jobs with several law firms and he decided the one that suited him best was in Jacksonville. Marsha hadn’t really wanted to go back to Florida, but there was the advantage of being in the state where her parents lived, and she felt she needed to support a move to wherever Trenton believed he could best succeed.
Trenton had done well. His salary had improved to the point, the family could afford a lovely home with a pool, in an upscale neighborhood near the beach. They were now the parents of four children. It seemed she had spent a lot of time being pregnant, in spite of the fact she only had one ovary due to an early tubal pregnancy. It wasn’t because they didn’t practice birth control, it just appeared she was extremely fertile and accidents happen. Trenton had declared their family was now complete.
The last time she had found to her dismay she was again pregnant, Trenton said "Enough is enough. You need to have this one taken care of. I know a doctor who can handle it."
Marsha had reluctantly agreed. Afterward Trenton had gotten his tubes tied, so there would be no chance of more.
Trenton wasn’t really father material. He left most of the parenting up to Marsha. She felt she was a good mother. She had joined and been elected the president of the PTA at the children’s school. She knew all the teachers and was willing to fight like a mother lion to protect her offspring if anyone dared to treat them unfairly.
Marsha still looked good after all these years. Having children hadn’t hurt her figure. She was healthy, and she exercised religiously. She kept up an active lifestyle. Along with her other activities, art was her passion. She had a studio, where she painted almost daily.
Recently, she and a friend had gotten into miniatures. When she was younger, she had thought seriously about becoming an architect. But one of her teachers discouraged her by saying females seldom succeed in that field. Now, she had designed and crafted a museum quality architectural model to scale to house her miniatures. Trenton had supported her all the way. He was proud to have such a talented wife.
Once when they were entertaining the law partners and their wives, Trenton had insisted everyone walk through their house to see his wife’s paintings and the miniature house she had designed. It was obvious he was proud of her. Marsha couldn’t understand why she was allowing doubts expressed by her maid to shake her security.
She needed to talk to Trenton. His voice would reassure her all was well. She tried not to bother him at work but this was important. Sheri, his secretary answered. “Hi, Sheri, is Trenton around?”
“No, I’m sorry Mrs. Benton. He’s in an important meeting. He asked that he not be disturbed. Would you like me to have him call you when he’s free?”
“Never mind. I’ll call him later.” She hung up the phone before further conversation could take place.
Darn that girl, Marsha thought. She let me know she didn’t intend to put my call through. I’ll bet the other wives talk to their husbands whenever they want to. What if my call had been an emergency? At least, she could have asked.
Sheri had only been Trenton’s secretary a few months and Marsha still hadn’t met her. It hadn’t mattered before, but now Marsha wondered what she looked like. Trenton said she was very good at her job, but he hadn’t commented further, and she hadn’t asked any questions.
Later that afternoon, Trenton called to say he wouldn’t be home for dinner.
“Again, Trenton? It’s like I never see you anymore. Did Sheri tell you I called?
“No, she didn’t mention it. Why did you call?”
“It wasn’t important, but why aren’t you coming home for dinner?”
“Marsha, I told you it would be like this after I made partner. There are important things I have to deal with. I don’t hear you complaining about me buying the house you wanted, nor the fact we have a maid so you don’t have to lift a finger. You always do your thing. If you want us to maintain this life style, you need to let me do what I need to do. I’ll be late tonight, so don’t wait up.”
“Ok, I hear you, but we need to talk. This isn’t working. The kids need a father, and I need a husband. I have a right to expect more out of this life than an extravagant lifestyle. See if you can find time to pencil me into your busy schedule. Something has got to change.”
Marsha hung up without saying goodbye. Tears ran down her cheeks. She’d never talked to Trenton that way before. She had made excuses for him, and never felt like she was being used until now. No doubt her tirade had shocked him. Now, she would wait to see what he intended to do about it.
By BethShelby
After hanging up on Trenton, Marsha sat quietly, trying to make sense of why suddenly it seemed without warning everything had changed. She realized, even before her earlier conversation with Latisia, she’d had a vague premonition things were spinning out of control. She had felt ill at ease without knowing why. She couldn’t remember the last time she and Trenton spent an evening out together.
Last weekend, Trenton and Bruce, a neighborhood friend, had watched a game together. The two of them had gone through, at least, three bottles of booze. Trenton had always held his liquor well, but lately, he’d seemed grumpier in the mornings, often complaining of headaches.
Bruce was someone she was uncomfortable around when he was drinking. He was her best friend’s husband. She would never dare say anything to Barbara, but he’d made passes at her several times when he’d managed to catch her alone. Now, she wondered if Bruce knew something she didn’t know about Trenton. If he did, that might explain why he’d felt free to try something with her.
Her mind drifted back to their early married days when Trenton was still in law school. Even back then, he often came home late. She’d always believed him when he said he was studying in the law library. Law classes were challenging, even for good students. He had passed the Law exam on his first attempt, unlike many of his classmates. Surely back then, there had been a good reason for his late hours.
Stop letting your mind go there, she told herself. You aren’t so naïve that if he has cheated on you all these years, you wouldn’t have realized it. It is more likely he is becoming addicted to alcohol like his father. Alcohol might lower his resistance if someone in his office tries to tempt him. I need to learn more about his new secretary.
Trenton came home around midnight after their telephone conversation. Marsha pretended to be asleep, but the following morning, she was up before he left for the office. He acted as though nothing had changed. “Trenton, like I told you yesterday, we need to talk. You’ve been working late almost every night. Do you think the two of us might go out for meal this evening?”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, Marsha. I thought you had enough projects going on to keep you busy. I have a new client, and we’ve scheduled a dinner meeting for this evening. I’ll see if I can make some time for us to do something together next week. It looks as if I’m going to have to go out of town this weekend. By the way, don’t forget to send my shirts out to the cleaners."
“Wow, it is pretty sad when I have to make an appointment to see my own husband.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. I’ve got to run. I’ll try to call you later, if I get some time. “
Marsha walked over to Trenton’s closet and started pulling out his shirts and checking the pockets. A couple of the shirts had the slight scent of perfume. It wasn’t his aftershave she had detected. Inspecting them closely, she saw what appeared to be a smear of makeup on the shoulder of one of them. A sick feeling washed over her. The evidence was there. She could no longer deny it.
If he thinks I’m sharing him with some other woman, he’s in for a shock. I’m not going there. I’ll talk to a lawyer and get a divorce before that happens, she muttered to herself. I don’t know how our children would handle it, if we were to split up? I wonder if they’ve noticed anything unusual? Would they tell me if they did?
Marsha tried thinking of ways she could approach the subject without it sounding as though she didn’t trust their father. Joey was the oldest. At 16, he had a more serious nature. He might know something he wouldn’t be likely to share without some encouragement. She would need to look for an opportunity to bring the subject up casually.
She couldn’t get the makeup on Trenton’s shirt off her mind. The next time she had an opportunity for a private word with him, she couldn’t hold back on confronting him. It was the following morning before the children were up. Trenton, himself, presented the opportunity.
“Marsha, you did remember to get my shirts to the cleaners, didn’t you?
“Yes, I sent them out. They’ll be back later today. I was wondering if you’d like a chance to explain the makeup and perfume all over the shoulder of one of them.
Trendon’s face drained of color as he struggled to act as if he knew nothing.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. If there’s makeup on my shirt, it would have to be yours.”
“I don’t think so,” Marsha snapped sarcastically. “It wasn’t my brand of perfume, and I can’t remember the last time I had my head on your shoulder. Would you like to tell me about the tramp you’ve been holding close?”
“Well, if it wasn’t your makeup, it must have been this old lady who is my client. She came into my office the other day all upset. She was starting to get hysterical. You know how some people get when they’re in trouble. I was trying to calm her down. It’s possible she might have got makeup on my shirt.”
“Nice try. You think well on your feet, but I’m not an idiot. You’re in corporate law. You don’t have clients who’ve been falsely accused of killing someone. I can’t seem to imagine a corporate representative crying on your shoulder.”
“The newer partners, do take on some Pro Bono cases, but you go right ahead and think whatever you like. I’ve never cheated on you. Well, maybe one time, but just once. She didn’t mean a thing to me. We were both drinking, and she came on to me. It never happened again. You know that you and our kids mean everything to me. I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late. We’ll talk about this when I have more time.”
Marsha rubbed the tears away and sat trying to come to terms with the situation. She loved Trenton and didn’t want to lose him. She wanted so badly to believe him. The possibility of separation or divorce wasn’t something she’d expected to ever deal with. If it wasn’t for his drinking problem, it likely wouldn’t be happening.
There had to be a better solution. If they couldn’t talk this out, maybe they could consider counseling. Only the future would reveal what might be in store.
| Author Notes | The story is set in Florida in an upscale neighborhood. Marsha is an artist and a stay home mom. She has reason to believe her husband who is a corporate lawyer may be cheating on her. She also believes he is becoming an alcoholic. She and Trendon are the parents of four children who range in age from twelve to sixteen. Trenton claimed he was not cheating, but she believed he has lied to her. She is suspicious of why he is keeping late hours, and she wants to learn more about his new secretary. |
By BethShelby
Marsha was beginning to realize when a suspicion takes over your mind it eats away at you like a cancer. Once again, she found herself digging around in Trenton’s closet. This time, she was feeling into the pockets of suit coats and jackets. Part of her hoped there was nothing there to find, but she felt compelled to do it anyway. All she had found were a matchbook with a printed bar name with which she wasn’t familiar and a couple of business cards.
She was about to give up when her fingers came across two receipts folded together. She took them out into the light to have a better look. One was from an expensive lingerie shop, and the other was from a Jared Jewelry store. A sick feeling washed over her. These items listed had not been gifts for her. She was shocked to think Trenton would even go into a lingerie shop. The price tags were shockingly expensive. She didn’t even own a diamond tennis bracelet. Both receipts showed the items were purchased in February.
February was over five months ago. This meant if he was cheating, it had been going on for a while. What possible other explanation could there be? The purchases were made with cash. Could one of the senior partners have asked him to pick up the items for their wife? Surely neither of them would have asked Trenton. They each had a secretary who could do that. Even if that had happened, Trenton wouldn’t have kept the receipts. She almost wished she hadn’t looked.
As soon as the kids were home, she found an excuse to pull Joey aside. “Son, I hate to burden you with this, but I’m concerned your father may have another woman in his life. I don’t want to get your sisters upset. You know how emotional they can be. I thought maybe I could talk to you. You haven’t had any reason to suspect anything have you?”
Joey looked down and pressed his lips together. He shifted his feet and cleared his throat before he spoke, “I didn’t want to say anything, unless you knew. He is seeing someone. I saw them. It looked like Dad’s car, and I watched to see where he was going. I don’t think Dad noticed me passing by, but I know where she lives. I started to say something to him, but I didn’t know what to say. I don’t want you to get a divorce.”
“Did you recognize her? Is she someone we know?"
“No. I’ve never seen her before. But she only lives a few blocks from here. I was riding my bike in that area.”
“What did you see? What were they doing?"
“They just got out of Dad’s car and went into her house. They were laughing and looking at each other like something was going on.”
“OK, Let’s keep this between us. Don’t tell the others what you saw. I’m probably going to want you to show me where she lives. I need to think about what to do about this.”
Marsha was angry and hurt. The shock of having it confirmed was devastating. What should I do now? she asked herself. I need to talk to someone. Do I confront him? Do I talk to a lawyer? I need to know what my options are. Why is this happening? I’ve been a good wife. I’ve always supported him. He could never find anyone who has done more for him than I have. His drinking is clouding his judgment. I don’t want a divorce. There has to be a way to fix this.
Marsha lay across her bed and sobbed, her tears soaking into the duvet cover. She berated herself for her stupidity of not realizing this was even possible. She decided she would talk to her friend Carman. She had been there for Carman when she was going through her divorce. Carman knew a good lawyer. She had come through the divorce with a great settlement.
Marsha decided she would just talk to the lawyer. She wouldn’t file for a divorce, but she could at least find out what she could expect if it came to that. She wouldn’t say anything to Trenton until he returned from his trip out of town.
Monday morning as Trenton prepared to leave for his trip to Tallahassee, Marsha asked, “Do you know how long you will be there?”
“No, it will just depend on how it goes. There are several meetings scheduled. I may be back in a couple of days, or it may take longer. I’ll call and let you know.”
“Are they just sending you? Is there no one else from the firm going?”
“Just me and my secretary. I have to take Sheri with me to take notes. If we sign them on as a client, she’ll need to be there to draw up the agreement. I hope you’re not worried about her. She’s not my type. We are booked in separate rooms at the Hampton Inn. You don’t have a thing to worry about from her. She’s got a boyfriend. Why are you asking all these questions? You’ve never been a jealous person.”
“I just asked. I didn’t mean anything by it. I can’t have a normal conversation with you anymore without you thinking I’m questioning you. I’d just like to know if anything comes up, if I can get in touch with you.”
“Let me call you. I’d rather you don’t call me when I’m in a meeting. I’ll be back home as soon as I can leave.”
Trenton gave her a quick peck on the cheek and was gone. It was Marsha’s week to drive the children to school, so she went about the task of getting them off in time to pick up the other two kids in the car pool.
Later in the day, she was surprised to get a call from Trenton’s firm. It was one of the senior partners, Bill Cunningham.
“Marsha, I was wondering if you have time to talk. I have some things I need to discuss with you while Trenton is out of town. I’d like you to come by the office if that is convenient. If not, I can meet you somewhere. It’s important, and I’d rather not do it over the phone.”
| Author Notes | The story is set in Jacksonville, Florida around 2010 It involves a couple in the 40s with four children. The husband is a lawyer who recently become a partner in his firm. He has a drinking and his wife suspects that he may be having an affair. |
By BethShelby
Marsha and Trenton are married and living in Jacksonville, Florida. Marsha has learned that Trenton, a lawyer, is having an affair. She is thinking of contacting her own lawyer, when Trenton is sent out of town on an assignment. His firm contacts her and asks her to come in and meet with the senior partner.
Chapter Four:
After the senior partner, Bill Cunningham, called from Trenton’s firm, Marsha made arrangements to meet with him at 10 am the following day. She wracked her brain trying to imagine why he wanted to meet with her while Trenton was out of town. Was it possible the firm was planning some sort of award ceremony and they hoped to surprise Trenton? Maybe it had to do with his cheating, but surely if they were aware he was cheating, they wouldn’t be calling to tell her.
Marsha had met Bill at a Christmas party and had seen him at a couple of other firm gatherings. She didn’t know him well, even though he’d spent quite a bit of time talking to her at the party. She’d been surprised afterward when Trenton sarcastically remarked, “Bill seems to find you rather fascinating.” Secretly, she had been pleased that Trenton sounded as if he resented other guys paying attention to her.
For a brief moment, it occurred to her that maybe Bill hoped to get to know her better while Trenton was away. She certainly hoped that wasn’t the case since they were both married. That would be an awkward and stupid move on his part.
The following day, she kept her appointment still wondering what the meeting could be about. It felt awkward telling the receptionist she was there to see Bill. He didn't keep her waiting long. After greeting her and thanking her for coming, he led her into his office.
“I know you must be wondering why I asked you to come in,” he said. “I’m sorry it is necessary to discuss this. I am assuming you must be aware that Trenton is having some problems with alcohol.”
“Well, yes, I know he’s been drinking more lately, but I’ve been thinking the firm has been mostly responsible for that. He told me it is a policy that the partners go out after work to a local bar to go over the cases with the clients and discuss strategy for dealing with them."
Bill frowned and shook his head before continuing. “Well, I’m afraid if he told you that, he might have misled you. That would certainly not be our policy. If we have anything to discuss concerning our clients, we would do it during the day here in the board room.”
Marsha took a deep breath and let this disturbing thought sink in. How could I have been so stupid and gullible? His late hours had nothing to do with the firm. Either he is going out to drink, or he is spending all of his time with that woman, whoever she is.
Bill continued,“Look, don’t get me wrong, I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you this. Trenton is a good lawyer and he is a real asset to this firm. If we thought so, he would have made partner. But lately, I am afraid he has become addicted to alcohol, and he needs help. He can’t do a decent job in the condition he’s in at present. We have talked to him about it more than once. He is coming in to work late with excuses, and he often goes out for part of the day. We think he keeps a bottle here and is drinking at work. He claims he doesn’t have a problem and he vows he will do better, but it isn’t happening.”
“His father was an alcoholic. I’ve been afraid he could become addicted. I don’t know what I can do about it. He won’t listen to me. He tells me he doesn’t have a problem. He doesn’t act drunk at home, but the truth is he has been spending a lot of time away from home.”
“Marsha, I don’t think he can do anything about it, without some professional help. We’ve discussed it here, and I’ve talked to him about going for treatment. We would pay for the treatment, and he would continue to draw a full salary, but he won’t do it willingly. It looks like we are going to have to do an intervention, and we need you to be a part of it. We have a treatment center in mind, and we can get a professional over here to direct the conversation. We’ll need you to tell him how it is affecting you and your children. He’ll have to understand he can’t continue here unless he agrees. How do you feel about it? Do you think it is something you’ll be able to handle?"
“Yes, definitely. I’m ready to do whatever I need to do. It is affecting my family. I’m glad you’re willing to do that for him. He isn’t going to like it. What if he refuses? Can we force him to go?”
“He’ll have to agree. The way these things work, he has to understand, if he wants to continue to work here as a law partner, he doesn’t really have another choice, and you can make it clear to him that he is failing his family. If you feel like it, you can say you don’t want him as part of your life. Without having any other options, most people will agree to go for treatment."
“When do you plan to do this?"
“We’d like to do it as soon as possible. We needed to make sure you’re on board. We’ll get in touch with the treatment center. He will need to be there at least a month and maybe longer. We will try to set up the intervention in a hotel. He’ll think he is meeting a client there. He won’t know until he walks in what we’ve planned. We’ll get back with you as soon as we know what they can work out. I’ll be contacting you again soon. I know this isn’t going to be easy for you, but I’m glad you are willing to go along with it.” Bill rose and so did Marsha. He walked her to the door and shook her hand.
Marsha left in a daze. Perhaps this was the answer she was hoping for. If Trenton was stashed away in a treatment center, he wouldn’t be able to carry on an affair with another woman. Maybe, he wouldn’t have gotten involved with anyone, if he hadn’t been drinking. This could be a turning point. There might be some hope after all.
For the first time in days, she felt as if a burden was being lifted. Now, she just had to get this obstacle behind her.
| Author Notes | Marsha and Trenton are married and living in Jacksonville, Florida. Marsha has learned that Trendon, a lawyer, is having an affair. She is thinking of contacting her own lawyer, when Trenton is sent out of town on an assignment. His firm contacts her and asks her to come in and meet with the senior partner. |
By BethShelby
Marsha walked out of Trenton’s firm with the words of the senior law partner bouncing around in her head. Would Trenton agree to go in for treatment? What if he didn’t? It sounded like if he didn’t take this chance he was being offered, he might be out of a job. What would happen then? In spite of their apparent wealth, theirs was a house of cards. If the monthly payments stopped the family would be in bankruptcy. If he was having an affair, and their relationship ended in divorce, where would that leave her? How would she raise four children on her own?
The brief moment of relief she had felt at a possible solution was eroding fast. She sat in her car, wondering if she was in any condition to drive. “Get hold of yourself,” she scolded aloud. “You’re not an idiot. Surely you can find a job, if it comes to that. Your parents won’t let you and the children starve. You’ve got to take this one day at a time.”
She’d barely gotten home when Trenton called,“Hey, Babe, where were you earlier? I tried to call, and you didn’t answer.”
“I had a headache, so I turned the phone off for a while. When are you planning to be back home? Will it be a lot longer?”
“No, that’s why I was calling. I think we’ll wrap it up tomorrow. I’ll be in tomorrow evening. We can go out to eat if you want. Are you alright? You were acting kind of weird when I left. Why don’t you go ahead and make reservations whereever you want to go for around eight. I’ll have to drop Sheri off by her place.”
After they hung up, Marsha was surprised and relieved that Trenton sounded more like himself. If he was drinking, he was hiding it well, but then, he could drink a lot without appearing to be drunk. Am I imagining things? Maybe he’s not really an alcoholic. Bill could be wrong about him. Trenton will be furious if we do an intervention. Should I try to talk to Bill again and see if I could get him to hold up? He might be willing to stop drinking on his own if he thinks he could lose his job.
The following morning, Marsha got a call from Bill. Before she got a chance to express her doubts about the wisdom of going through with the intervention, he started telling her the arrangements were already made. “I’ve got it all set up with the treatment center. They have an opening, and they are sending a counselor out to facilitate the intervention. Trenton will be coming back today, so we need to get this finalized. We want to do it on Monday of next week. I’ve rented a suite at the Hilton. We would like everyone there at 3pm. You won’t have a problem with that, will you?”
“No, I can arrange to be there, if you’re sure we have to do this.”
“Yes, it is necessary if he is to continue as a partner with the firm. We have had several talks with him about his drinking. He has assured us that he has it under control, but it has become apparent that he doesn’t. We talked about that yesterday. You seemed to be on board with it then. I hope you aren’t having second thoughts. We’re counting on you. You need to make sure he doesn’t know about this. He will believe he is going to be meeting with a client when he goes into the hotel room. The element of surprise is essential.”
“I’m trying to get on board with it, but it isn’t easy. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get any indication of anything from me. I do have a lot of questions. I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be this quick.”
“I knew you would have questions. That is why I’m sending you some material over by courier right away. It will tell you everything you need to know about how this will go down. There will be a questionnaire you’ll fill out which will guide you and any others on how to go about this. You can write down what you plan to say to him in case you get emotional. These sessions can get intense. Also, how about your two older children? Only you would know if they need to be involved. It can be traumatic for young people. They don’t recommend anyone under 16 be there. You’ll need to talk to your kids and decide if even the older ones would be comfortable talking about how his drinking is affecting them.
“I hadn’t thought about them. My son is 17. He has expressed concern about his dad’s drinking. I’ll see what he says."
“Okay. If there is anyone else you think could help, let me know. I know his parents are living in another state. The material I’m sending over will include pictures and information about the treatment center. It’s about ten miles from here. They recommend that he stay there for a minimum of six weeks. You won’t be able to see him or contact him for a while. They will determine at what point you’ll be able to visit him. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to call. While he’s gone, we will send his checks to you,"
When Marsha got off of the phone, it felt as though a cloud of fear and dread had descended on her. This was really happening. Six weeks was a long time. They’d never been apart for so long before. How was she to act when Trenton got back home tonight? She would need to wait about letting the children know what was about to happen or they might alert their father. She could depend on Joey not to say anything. She would call him aside and see how he felt about being there. Linsey was 16, but she was far too emotional.
Trenton arrived home at shortly past seven. Marsha had made the dinner reservations. He greeted her with a kiss and acted as though things were normal between them. He was likely going out of his way to pretend all was well. Before he had gone out of town, she had told him they needed to talk, but now, it wouldn’t do to risk confronting him with his recent behavior. She decided to put on an act as well. They chatted casually about the children and the possibility of having her family over for a meal.
| Author Notes |
Marsha has just left the Trenton's firm after being called in while her Trenton was out of town to discuss the partners' decision to have an intervention concerning his drinking. She has recently learned that her husband is likely cheating on her.
This will be the 5th chapter in the book Anatomy of a Marriage. |
By BethShelby
In the days that followed Marsha’s meeting with Bill Cunningham about the law firm’s plans for an intervention, Trenton seemed to be putting extra effort into building back some of the trust Marsha had lost. He was home more of the time, and spent some time talking about his success in signing the client he had gone to Tallahassee to meet. He even mentioned Sheri, his secretary who had gone with him on the trip, in a negative way. Since Marsha hadn’t met Sheri and her only contact had been by phone, she’d wondered if maybe she was the one he had been seeing. Now he was telling her, Sheri wasn’t working out so well, and he was thinking of letting her go.
Marsha’s suspicious mind wanted to believe him, but still, she wondered if perhaps he wasn’t telling her that, and spending more time at home in order to ease her suspicions. As she had promised Bill, she refrained from telling Trenton that his firm had planned an intervention. She knew Bill was right by saying if he knew ahead of time, it would only guarantee he would be prepared and would refuse to go along with it. She realized that if he did refuse treatment, it might mean the firm would terminate his partnership and possibly his employment. She was torn with guilt, knowing he would feel she had betrayed him by not saying anything.
The Monday date was approaching, and Marsha had gone over all of the information thoroughly which Bill had sent to her by courier. There were suggestions as to what the wife should say. Although, she didn’t plan to have to read it, she had written, discarded and rewritten dozens of drafts. She had talked to her son, Joey to see how he felt about being there.
Joey’s response had been, “No way! I couldn’t possibly face Dad and tell him he has to go away for treatment. He would hate me. I do think he needs help though. I can’t stand to see him killing himself drinking. He’s going to end up dying of liver disease like his dad did. Your own grandpa died of liver problems too, didn’t he?''
“Yes, he did. He died young, too. It really worries me about you children. Alcoholism runs on both sides of the family. I hope none of you ever start drinking. I don’t think I got that gene though. I’ve never had over two glasses of wine and I only have it occasionally with friends.”
Monday arrived and Trenton kissed Marsha goodbye and left for work believing he would be meeting with another potential client in the afternoon. She and Joey were the only two in the family that knew this day would be different. The kids left for school as though it would be an ordinary day. She hadn’t mentioned anything about it to the maid. She wasn’t convinced Latisha could keep her mouth shut, and she was certain her daughters couldn’t. Marsha spent the morning staying busy and trying to deal with the fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was all she could do to avoid thinking a glass of wine might help to calm her nerves.
As instructed, just before 3:00 pm, Marsha found her way to the assigned suite at the Hilton. The coordinator, sent from the treatment center, met her at the door and introduced himself as Alex Feldon. Four of the other law partners were already seated. Chairs had been arranged into a semicircle. He told her when Trenton arrived, he would be expecting to meet a client. He would likely be shocked finding her and members of the firm present. He couldn’t guarantee what his reaction might be.
The atmosphere was tense. Marsha knew all of the other partners, but under the circumstances the conversation was subdued. Everyone appeared to be on edge as they waited for Trenton. He was due at 3:30. This gave those who would be confronting Trenton time to be seated and go over last-minute instructions and to get answers to any question they might have. Bill Cunningham, the top man in the firm, was the last one seated.
Trenton arrived promptly at 3:30. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Alex. He shook hands in a professional manner, believing him to be his client, but as his eyes traveled past Alex, his face clouded with confusion and then shock. He grew noticeably paler and took on that ‘deer in the headlight’ look which Marsha realized was an apt description. Seeing his wife and the serious expressions on the faces of his fellow partners, Trenton realized this was no surprise party. His first thought was to turn away and leave quickly, but he realized this was something he must face head-on. It was too late to retreat. Alex led him to a chair in the center of the group and told him he needed to listen and hold his comments until everyone had had their say.
One by one, each of his partners spoke about what his being late for appointments and comments clients had made concerning his excessive drinking was doing to the reputation of the firm. Bill Cunningham laid it out in such a way that there was no doubt he couldn’t continue without getting some professional help.
Marsha was the last to speak. She had thought she could tell him how his drinking was impacting her and the children, but after a few stumbling words, she found her throat closing and tears starting to trickle down her cheeks. She had to rely on reading what she had written. She told him she loved him, but they had reached a place where if he didn’t get help with his drinking their marriage would fail.
Trenton claimed he was getting control of it himself and that he was willing to start attending AA meetings, but he was told he was at a point AA wouldn’t be enough. He needed time in a treatment center, and that his reservation had already been made. When all of his protests had been shot down, he realized he had no real choice other than to agree.
“How soon must I do this?” he asked.
“I’m here to take you today. We will go by your house and let you pack a bag, and then, we will go from there.” Alex told him. “You’ll be there for six weeks, but everything will be taken care off. Your wife assures us that she can handle it. She will take care of your checks and paying the bills, until you’re able to go back to work. Your firm considers you a partner worthy of what they are doing. They are willing to take care of your expenses at the center and pay your full salary until you get this thing under control.”
The meeting ended with Trenton reluctantly agreeing to go with Alex. His partners all shook his hand. Some hugged him and patted him on the back. They told him they were proud of his decision, and they knew he could do what he needed to do. After going home and getting his things together, he and Marsha had a few minutes together for a teary goodbye.
Marsha had given the children money for a movie they had been wanting to see, so that they wouldn’t be home as their father was leaving. She was afraid their reaction might make it worse for everyone. She still had to explain to them why he would be away for a while.
She felt some of the tension leaving her after Alex and Trenton had gone. The days ahead wouldn’t be easy, but at least, it seemed a step in the right direction.
| Author Notes | This is the story of couple in a marriage crisis. Marsha has reason to suspect Trenton, a partner in a law firm, of cheating. Trenton is also an alcoholic, and his law partners have decided if he is to remain with the firm an intervention is needed to make sure he with go to a treatment center. |
By BethShelby
Once Trenton had departed for the treatment center, Marsha was overcome with a feeling of loss. She had never been away from him more than a day or two, and even then, there was always the option of getting in touch by phone should the need arise. This was different, and she felt truly alone as the responsible adult left to hold her family together. She couldn’t even reach him by phone until the treatment center felt it wouldn’t impede his progress. She scolded herself for throwing a private pity party and allowing the tears to flow as she waited for the children to get home.
As soon as she heard the children come inside, she called them together, saying she had something she needed to tell them. Joey knew what this meeting was all about, and he was anxious to know if his dad had consented to go for treatment. The others seemed alarmed, fearing news of perhaps an illness or someone like one of their grandparents dying.
“Kids, I’m sure you are aware your dad has been drinking more often lately. You know alcoholism runs in his family and his father died from a liver disease brought on by drinking. It is like any other disease and when it gets out of hand it has to be treated.”
“He doesn’t drink any more than most people,” Timothy interrupted. “Jerramy's dad across the street gets mean when he drinks. I’ve seen him drunk. He gave Jerramy a black eye once and he curses. Daddy doesn’t do that.”
“No, your dad has more control, but that’s all the more reason, we’ve decided your dad needs to go for treatment before it gets any worse and something bad happens. He is going to be away for a while. It will just be us for now, but we can handle it. When he gets back home, hopefully he won’t feel the need to drink and things will go back to normal.”
“What did Dad say when he came in to that place, and everyone was there telling him he had to go away? I’ll bet he was furious," Joey said.
“What? You knew all the time and you didn’t say anything,” Linsey snaped angerly. “Who told Daddy he had to go away? Why wasn’t I told anything? I’m nearly as old as you are, Joey. And Mom, you always act like he is your favorite. You tell him everything. He knows what’s happening before anyone else. It'snot fair. Parents aren’t supposed to have favorites.”
Marsha’s heart sank. She had hoped to avoid this reaction. Why did Joey have to pick this moment to let them know he knew? Linsey can be so dramatic and temperamental. I knew she'd go off like a wounded cat.
“Honey, you know I don’t have favorites. I love every one of you. I’d never keep anything important from you, but you are too quick to over-react sometime. I’m telling all of you right now.” Marsha addressed her youngest daughter. “Tracy, do you have anything to say about this?”
“I don’t care if he goes away. He’s always going somewhere. It’s ok as long as you don’t leave. I didn’t even know he was drinking too much. I thought all grownups drank. Dad hardly ever talks to me anyway."
Marsha sighed, wondering if she and Trenton hadn’t been paying enough attention to their children. They had a way of surprising you with their observations. She would need to spend more time with them.
The kids had more questions, and it took a while to get them settled. Up to this point, raising them had gone smoothly. She hoped it could continue that way, but with all of them now teens, things might get out of hand while their father was away. Jacksonville wasn’t an ideal place for raising teenagers. She’d already been concerned about some of the parties they’d attended. Drugs and alcohol were often available. She’d recently put a lock on their liquor cabinet. Maybe she would decide not to stock it in the future. She enjoyed a glass of wine occasionally, but it was something she could easily do without.
She planned to tell Latisha when she came in to work tomorrow. Thank goodness, they had hired Latisha. She was going to have to depend on her maid more than ever now.
She had avoided her friend Barbara lately, but now she decided would be a good time to let them know what was going on. Bruce would miss his weekend drinking buddy.
When Marsha went next door, Barbara greeted her warmly and she could see the relief in her friend’s face as she told her about the intervention. Barbara said, “The last time we were together, I knew something was wrong. You weren’t your usual friendly self. I thought maybe I had done something to offend you. We used to get together every day or so. I can’t believe the firm was willing to pay to have Trenton go for treatment. I’m even more surprised, he was willing to go. You know when Bruce worked for the firm, they didn’t give him that option. They fired him outright for drinking on the job. I never told you that was the reason he left the firm, did I?”
“No, I thought he left because he found a job he felt more comfortable with doing.”
“It’s embarrassing to have to tell someone your husband got fired. I wish they had sent him for treatment, but Bruce wasn’t a partner like Trenton. I’d give anything if he didn’t drink so much.”
“His drinking wasn’t all that was bothering me,” Marsha admitted. “I suspected he was cheating on me. I still don’t know that he isn’t, but I’ve got to deal with one thing at a time. Maybe if he can get his drinking under control, the other will take care of itself. I can at least hope that might happen."
,,,,,,,,
A week later, a courier arrived bringing Trenton’s check from the firm. It contained a shock Marsha hadn’t anticipated.
| Author Notes | The Intervention for Trenton's drinking initiated by his law firm is over, and he agreed to a treatment center for 6 weeks. Marsha is dealing with her four children alone. |
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