Stacia thought that Cherry should give Tom a deadline. Cherry had laughed out loud. If Tom got too frustrated, he’d just walk away. He’d leave the house like this, turned inside out.
“Who cares?” Stacia had said. She and Cherry had lunch together sometimes during the week, over videoconference. “Then you win. You can just box his shit up and get rid of it.”
“I don’t want towin,” Cherry had replied.
“I just mean, then you’d have your house back.”
“I don’t think I want the house back.” Cherry poked at her chicken salad. “I think I want to start over.”
“Oh,” Stacia said. She looked sad for a second, and then said, “Yeah, why not? Start over!”
“In a way,” Cherry said, feeling encouraged, “Tom’s doing me a favor. He’s helping me do this big cleanse. If he doesn’t want something and the thing makes me sad, I’m throwing it out.”
“Huh...” Stacia looked thoughtful. “It’s like reverse Marie Kondo.”
“Exactly. It’s like I’m touching everything in the house to see if it sparks misery.”
“I don’t know...” Stacia frowned again. “I think you might throw out things that you end up wanting later.Everythingin that house is going to bring back sad memories right now.”
“I’ll just buy new things with Tom’s money.”
“Why does it sound so depressing when you say that...”
Cherry set down her fork. “I thought you wanted me to put Tom behind me and let in new energy.”
“I do. Ido.But your house is so cute.”
Cherry had laughed and raised her eyebrows. “Yeah, not anymore.”
Her house was a huge mess.
It accurately reflected Cherry’s life.
She could influence Tom, but she couldn’t change him. Their marriage was going to end the same way it had begun: drawn out and overly complicated, with too much thinking and not enough talking, and Tom forever hung up on small things.
Eventually Cherry would say,“Enough,”and they’d move on.
Eventually Cherry would say,“Enough,”and Tom would be truly gone.
Chapter 19
Today 3:45 PM
Mom
I just want you girls to know that your sister’s husband is back, and they’re talking. This would be a good time for us all to pray for Cherry and Tom. I know I don’t have to tell any of you how important the marriage vows are, in heaven and on earth!! It’s right there in Genesis—“It is not good that the man should be alone!” Or the woman!! With Jesus’s love and light, I know that Cherry can see the power of forgiveness! Just like God gives our bodies the tools to heal, he also gives our hearts the tools to heal!
So please pray for Cherry and Tom. (Tom is still your brother!!!)
And pray for me, too. I had a mammogram today. You know that my Aunt Lou died of breast cancer.
Joy
Mom, Cherry is on this thread.
Honny
Also, Cherry has a boyfriend that she hasn’t told any of us about. So please let’s pray for her to be more forthcoming with her sisters.
