“Tina, take a couple of deep breaths. What’s going on?”
“I didn’t want to tell you this, but Garth has a problem with alcohol. I think he’s an alcoholic, and I thought I could deal with it. I’ve been telling him he should go to AA and get help, but he doesn’t think he has a problem. But tonight, it got really bad, and he?—”
“Oh my gosh. Did he hit you?”
“No. No.”
“Tina, what happened?”
“He was calling me fat, and he was saying that I’m ugly, and he said that I always bring him down and that he wishes he had married someone else. And that I trapped him.” She’s crying, and I can feel myself tense. My heart goes out to my sister.
“Tina, please. This doesn’t sound healthy.”
“I don’t know what to do. He is constantly berating me, and I just can never live up to it. When he is sober, he feels so sorry, and he apologizes and buys me things, and he says sorry, but I just don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t want to live like this anymore. I don’t know who he is when he’s drunk, and he scares me.”
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m hidden in the second bathroom with the door locked. I don’t know what to do, Gina.”
“You need to leave him, Tina.”
“But I love him.”
“I know you love him.”
“I don’t want to give up on him.”
“Tina, listen to me.”
“He pushed me today.”
“What do you mean, he pushed you?”
“I mean, he didn’t hit me or anything, but he pushed me into the wall hard, and I hurt my arm.”
“I’m coming. I’m coming now. You are my sister, and I love you.”
“I knew you wouldn’t judge me. And I just… I don’t know what to do. I’m not as strong as you are.” I freeze at her words. This is the first time my sister has ever said anything even remotely complimentary to me.
“Stay there. I’m coming.”
“But it’s late.”
“I’m coming. Stay in the bathroom. I’ll be there in thirty-five minutes. Do you want me to stay on the phone with you?”
“No, it’s okay. Just drive safely.”
“Okay. I will. I love you, Tina.”
“I love you, too.” I hang up and look over at Hunter. He’s sitting there, staring at me.
“Is everything okay? What’s going on?”
“It’s my sister. Her husband, Garth, is mistreating her. I always thought they had this perfect relationship, but I guess he’s an alcoholic, and maybe he’s getting violent. I don’t know. But she was so—I’ve never heard her like that. I need to go to her. I know this is weird, and we just?—”
“Hey,” he says, jumping out of bed and holding me. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No. Of course not.”
