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Tonya
The tears came so fast and hard her eyes felt like they were on fire. Someone had thrown dynamite at her flimsy dam, and now the water gushed out. Her throat grew so tight that she had to fight for air.
“Please, Roy. Don’t do this.” She hated the weakness in her voice. She didn’t think he’d even heard her.
“Go with your daughter. You’ve managed to turn her against me, so you two might as well be homeless together.”
Anger kindled some strength. “Turned her against you?” Was he serious? “Roy, I haven’t done anything. I didn’t have an affair! This is all on you.”
“If you don’t move out of this house, I will move you out!”
She almost laughed. He wasn’t a burly man. She knew he couldn’t sling her over his shoulder and carry her outside.
“I’ll start with your things. The things you care most about. I’ll go get the photo albums.” She heard him walk away.
She didn’t know if he would really throw Emma’s baby photos out into the storm, but she didn’t want to chance it. She opened the bedroom door and stuck her head out into the empty hallway. She stepped out tentatively, afraid he was going to pop out from behind something and grab her. But he didn’t. She found him on his way to the front door with an armload of scrapbooks and photo albums. “Roy, please, no.” She reached for the albums, but he yanked them away from her.
“If you get out now, I’ll give you a few days to gather your stuff. But I’m serious.” His voice was like a growl. “I really can’t be in the same house as you right now.” He shifted the books to one arm and then reached out and opened the door. The wind blew rain in at them. She didn’t know where her raincoat was. She didn’t know where an umbrella was. She looked out into the storm. He pulled the books back, threatening to heave them out into the rain.
“Fine. I’ll go.” The evenness in her voice surprised her and pleased her a little. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t already crumbled into nothing. Anger was a powerful glue. “Sixteen years I’ve given you,” she said softly. “Sixteen years of my life. My entire adulthood I’ve given you.” They’d gotten married in Bible college. She’d never been an adult without him. Had no idea how to be an adult without him. “I’ve given everything of myself to your church, to your career. I gave you a daughter, and she’s the best human being in the world. And you’re going to throw us both away?”
His face twisted up into a knot she’d never seen before. She did not know this man. Had she ever known him? She thought so. But the man she knew was missing—if not gone altogether. She stepped out into the rain, and it stole her breath. He tried to slam the door behind her, but it hit her hip and bounced open again. She was knocked out onto the top step, and he kicked the door shut. This time, it stayed shut.
She looked toward Mrs. Patterson’s house. Her outdoor light was on, like a small lighthouse. Thunder crashed, and Tonya jumped. Mrs. Patterson’s lighthouse light flickered and then went out, as did all the streetlights. The town plunged into a howling darkness. She hugged her arms around her chest and started across her lawn. Would Mrs. Patterson even open the door? It would be okay if she didn’t, Tonya decided. If Mrs. Patterson wouldn’t let her in, she would get Emma to come out, and they would find somewhere to go together. She had a whole church of people who were eager to serve, eager to help others. As long as she and Emma were together, she could survive this, she told herself. A sob erupted out of her. She started across Mrs. Patterson’s yard. The rain was so loud, it almost mocked her own crying, making her problems seem small and insignificant.
Could she survive this? And if so, how? How would she endure this humiliation? How would she put a roof over Emma’s head? How would she feed her? How would she buy her school clothes? She raised her hand, hesitated, and then knocked on Mrs. Patterson’s door.
