Todos os capítulos de Decisions I made : Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

Ten years ago, my husband and I started having problems in our marriage. At first, they were the kind of problems that many couples face—arguments about money, stress from everyday life, and disagreements about priorities. We kept telling ourselves that things would get better, that we were just going through a rough patch. But underneath the surface, there were much deeper issues that neither of us was willing to fully acknowledge.Looking back now, I can see that the cracks had been there for years. Some of them were hidden by love, some by hope, and some by the lies my husband told me throughout our relationship. When you're in love with someone, it's amazing what you're willing to overlook. You convince yourself that things aren't as bad as they seem. You believe the promises. You trust the explanations. Most of all, you believe the person you love would never intentionally hurt you.Everything finally came to a head on our daughter's seventeenth birthday, but to tell that story p

"Okay," Dad said as he leaned back in his chair. "Let's talk about this Jack guy."I groaned."Do we have to?""Absolutely."Mom laughed."We definitely have to."I shook my head."There's really not much to tell."Dad pointed at me."Start with what you know."I thought about it for a moment."Well, he sold me my car."Dad nodded."Okay.""He's the General Manager at the dealership.""That sounds respectable.""I guess."Mom sat down beside me."What else?"I shrugged."He's persistent."Both of my parents laughed."Persistent?" Dad asked."Very persistent.""How persistent?"I laughed."Dad, the man called me for weeks."Mom's eyebrows shot up."Weeks?""Yes.""And you kept saying no?""Yes."Dad looked impressed."Most men would have given up.""Exactly.""But he didn't?""No."Mom smiled."I like him already.""Mom, stop.""What?""You don't even know him."She laughed."I know enough."Dad nodded in agreement."Most people hear 'I'm seeing someone' and disappear."I looked down a

"Where is Jack taking you for dinner?" Mom asked as we walked toward the mall entrance.I smiled."Pier W."Mom stopped so fast I nearly walked right into her."What?"I laughed."Pier W."She just stood there staring at me."The Pier W?""Yes, Mom."For a moment she didn't say anything.Then she grabbed my arm."Lela, do you realize how hard it is to get reservations there?"I shrugged."Not really."She started laughing."Oh my God.""What?""Sweetheart, people wait months for reservations at Pier W."I looked at her."Seriously?""Very seriously."I had heard of the restaurant, of course. Everyone had. It was one of those places people talked about for weeks after they went there. The food, the view, the atmosphere—everything about it was supposed to be incredible.But I never really thought much about it.Chris and I rarely went anywhere special anymore.Most dinners out consisted of whatever was convenient between schedules.Mom shook her head."You don't just wake up on a Tuesda

Around five o'clock, I loaded my dress, shoes, and makeup into the car and headed to my parents' house.There was no way I was getting ready at the house I shared with Chris.I wasn't trying to hide anything, but I also wasn't looking for questions, arguments, or awkward conversations.I simply wanted one evening without stress.One evening that belonged to me.When I pulled into my parents' driveway, Mom was already standing at the front door waiting.I laughed."Have you been watching for me?""No.""Mom.""Maybe."I shook my head and carried everything inside.The next two hours felt like preparing for prom.Mom fussed over my hair.Adjusted my jewelry.Changed her mind about my lipstick twice.And reminded me at least twenty times that my father was paying for every item I was wearing.Around six-thirty, Dad came downstairs and stopped in the living room.For a moment, he just stared.I immediately groaned."What?"Dad smiled."Wow.""Dad.""What?""You sound like Mom."He shook h

As we pulled away from my parents' house, I glanced back one last time.Mom was still standing in the doorway holding her flowers.Dad stood beside her with his arms crossed.Watching.Just like he always had.The white rose rested gently in my lap as we drove through the evening traffic.For the first few minutes, neither of us seemed nervous anymore.The conversation flowed easily.We talked about work.Funny customer stories from the dealership.Family.Travel.The kind of conversation that makes time pass quickly.At one point, I looked over and realized something.I was laughing.A lot.More than I had in a very long time.Jack noticed too."I like that.""What?""Your laugh."I rolled my eyes."There you go again.""What?""It's a weird thing to compliment.""No," he said with a smile. "It's not."Before I could argue, he missed a turn.I immediately started laughing."There.""What?""You were supposed to turn there."Jack looked in the rearview mirror."Oh.""You missed it.""