When Jen Met Willie

My Cousin Annie Prologue

Disclaimer: No rights to any characters from Annie belong to me. Jennifer Farrell and her children are Mandalicious's original characters and Jennifer's husband Willie is my own. I figured I would add a prologue to this story that goes into the back story of Jennifer and Willie's courtship, marriage and what leads up to Willie eventually abandoning his family would be a good idea. This chapter is from Jennifer's perspective… the rest of the story is from Kathryn's perspective.

I often feel so bitter toward my husband for abandoning my family. It's been simmering ever since the day he left us 11 years ago. I often wondered how things would be different if he hadn't left? Would my father have been able to talk to sense into him about being a good father before he passed away? Some questions are better off left unanswered I guess.

I met Willie my junior year at Michigan at a party for a mutual friend's birthday. He was in a band with a few of his friends and they were band for the party. During a break in their set he came over to talk to me.

"Hey, you're Sarah's friend right?"

I nodded. "I'm Jennifer, nice to meet you." He had the most captivating blue eyes.

"Nice to meet you too. What did you think of that song we just played?"

"It had a really nice beat to it."

"It's an original you know.

"Cool. I didn't know you wrote songs."

"Our band writes a lot of our own songs. Who knows I may write for you someday."

I blushed. "That's awfully nice of you."

"Well, break's over! I'll talk to you later."

"Sure, I'll talk to you later.

The next morning I called my house in Connecticut. I couldn't wait to tell my sister Grace the good news. Grace is 3 years younger than me. In the fall she'll be starting her freshmen year at Columbia. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Our younger sister Melissa is in 9th grade. Grace picked up on the first ring.

"Hi Jenny. I miss you!"

"I miss you too Gracie. Guess what?"

"What?" My sister is never very good at guessing things.

"I met a boy!"

I could hear a squeal of excitement from Melissa in the background.

"That's exciting! Are we going to get to meet him?"

"Eventually I hope… we're not dating yet or anything."

"What's his name?"

"Willie."

"How did you meet him?"

"He's in a band that played at my friend Sarah's birthday party last night."

"What does he play?"

"Drums."

"What does he look like?"

"He's tall with blonde hair and the most stunning blue eyes."

"We're so excited for you Jenny. Are you going to bring him home over the summer?'

"Maybe."

"We can't wait until you're home for summer break Jen!"

My heart panged with longing. "I miss you two so much. The semester is only a few months longer I'll be home in mid-May."

"I love you Gracie. Tell Lissy I love her too."

"We love you too Jenny. How are your classes going?"

"Fine, how are yours? You must be so excited senior year is almost over."

"This year has been so busy. I can't wait for it to be summer!"

"Well, I have to go. I have to get ready to go to my biology lecture."

"Talk to you soon Jenny."

I hung up.

Throughout the rest of the semester Willie and I went out on a semi- consistent basis with a group of our friends. We got to know each other better as time went on and he then asked me to live in an apartment with him in the fall.

"Sure, that would be fun. Would be living together with anyone else?"

"Yeah, Sarah, Randy Megan and James."

"Sounds like a plan."

When the semester ended I went back to Connecticut and he went back to Ohio. I found myself missing him a great deal. I never knew what love at first sight really was until that moment.

In mid- July he called me on the phone and asked me if he could come visit me the week before school started and we could fly out to Michigan together.

"Sure! My family can't wait to meet you!"

I highly anticipated his arrival. I could tell that Grace and Melissa were excited to meet him too.

"When is he coming when is coming?" Grace asked.

I smiled. "Daddy is taking me to the airport to pick him up around 4:15pm."

At dinner that night it was getting to know you hour.

"So Willlie.. is that short for William?" my mother asked.

Willie nodded "Yeah. I prefer to be called Willie though Bill is too common of a nickname for William."

"Jenny said you play drums in a band! That's so cool." Grace said

"What's your band called?" Melissa asked.

"Serendipity." Willie answered

"What a cool name!" Grace said.

"So what's your major Willie?" my father asked

"Music. All my buddies and I are really creative. We're all either music, theatre or creative writing majors."

"What do you plan on doing with that degree after graduation?"

Willie shrugged. "Not really sure yet. Right now I just want to focus on getting through senior year.. not too worried about finding a job right now."

My parents exchanged a skeptical glance between them.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Grace asked

Willie nodded. "I'm the youngest of two. My older brother Sam lives in Connecticut.. not too far from you guys actually. I'm in this area a lot during the holidays so Jen and I will fly back together at Christmas and Thanksgiving."

"Will we get to meet your family too?" Melissa asked.

"I sure hope so."

The semester started on August 27th. It was a very hectic semester with trying to wrap up all the credits for my major and trying to figure out my internships for the spring. I am very serious about my studies.. always have been. Willie on the other hand doesn't seem half as concerned about good grades.

One night before his band had a big concert in the next town over I noticed he hadn't even cracked opened his books to study for a big test he had on Monday.

"Shouldn't you be studying?" I asked

"This test will be a breeze. I'm not too worried about it. I'll just study in the van on the way to the show and in between sets."

I looked at him skeptically "Are you sure you'll be prepared enough?"

"I'm not too worried. I'm not so sure why you're worried. You're not the person who has this test on Monday."

I chose not to say anything more. The last thing I wanted to do was get in an argument with him.

Once the spring came things were even crazier. I had 2 classes my internship and my work study job and Willie was away every other weekend playing with the band. As the semester drew to an end and graduation approached I was excited about the future but nervous about what the future would be like living with Willie.

Two days before graduation on the senior cruise Willie took me by the hand and walked me to the side of the ship that overlooked the ocean.

" Jen, you know I've been thinking you don't always want to live in Michigan do you?"

I shook my head. "No, this town is way too small for me. There's nothing to do here."

"My buddy Gary lives in Chicago. I was thinking of giving the band up for awhile and settling down with you,… maybe starting a family."

"That's a big step Willie. Are you sure you want to get married?"

Willie nodded. "Yeah, you're the girl I want to marry Jennifer."

My heart raced. "This is all so sudden. We've only been dating for a year."

"We're not gonna get married right away. I want to find a place in Chicago first and start looking for a job. You need to look for a job too."

This all sounded very promising. I was very happy that Willie was willing to sacrifice the band for me and to start a family. I couldn't wait to tell my family about the engagement.

Once we moved to Chicago things got kind of difficult. I had no problems finding a job and got an entry level position at a dentist office as a receptionist. Willie on the other hand struggled to find work. His final grades had not turned out very well and because of this he had trouble finding work. I wanted to tell him that he should have focused more on his studies instead of partying so much but decided not to say anything.

That fall I got some news that shook the very foundation of my family. My sister Melissa called me up in tears saying that my father was diagnosed with cancer and only had six months to live.

When I hung up the phone and looked at my fiancée I burst into tears

"Don't cry sweetheart. Everything will be alright." Willie consoled

I prayed to god that he was right.

As it turned out my father didn't even make it through the Christmas holidays. He died on December 20th. I flew home a few days before that to spend my father's last days with him. I just couldn't believe we had lost the man who was the rock of our family. I decided to stay through New Years to make sure my mother would be alright. The day before I was going to fly back to Chicago I pulled my sisters aside.

"Have you two noticed that Mama looks really pale?"

My sisters nodded. "I'm not too alarmed. It could just be low blood sugar." Melissa said.

Grace didn't look too sure. "I don't know. I noticed she hasn't been eating very well lately. I hope she's not starving herself. I know she's been taking Daddy's death incredibly hard. We certainly don't want to end up losing her too."

I flew back to Chicago with a heavy heart. I was very worried my mother wasn't taking very good care of herself.

Time went on. On May 4th I got a call from Grace.

"Jenny, Grandma wants you home as soon as possible."

My heart raced. "Is anything wrong?"

There was silence.

"Gracie, sweetheart are you there?"

I could tell my sister was very upset about something. She was crying on the other end of the phone.

"Mama has been very sick Jenny. We're not sure what she has but she could die any day now."

It was my turn to be quiet. Willie came into the kitchen from grocery shopping at that moment. He noticed my somber expression right away.

"How soon can you be home Jenny?"

"Tomorrow, maybe Friday."

"Okay. I'll see you soon,"

"I love you Gracie."

"I love you too Jenny."

I hung up the phone and fell into Willie's open arms. He rocked me back and forth for fifteen minutes.

"Do you want me to come to Connecticut with you this time sweetheart? I can always stay at my brother's house, if you need time to be alone with your sisters."

"That would be excellent. Thank you darling."

"I love you Jen."

"I love you too."

When we got to Connecticut my grandmother met us at the train station.

"Hello Willie, sorry we have to see you under these circumstances."

"I'm sorry about Emily being sick Mrs. Farrell. I'll be staying at my brother's house. If you need anything just give me a call."

"Thank you dear. We appreciate that very much."

Willie kissed me as we exited the train station. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too."

Willie hailed a cab to his brother's house and my grandmother and I walked to her car which was on the east side of the parking lot.

"So what does Mama have exactly?" I asked

Grandma shrugged. "We don't really know what kind of disease she has. Have you noticed anything at all strange about how your mother has been acting?"

I shrugged. "I know she was really sad about Daddy's death. Gracie mentioned something awhile ago about the fact she wasn't eating a lot. Have her eating habits improved at all?"

Grandma shook her head. "Her eating habits haven't improved unfortunately. I think that's part of the problem. She probably hasn't been getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients in her system."

My heart did a somersault in my chest. I was silent for the rest of the car ride.

When we got home Grace threw her arms around me.

"Oh Jenny, we're so happy you're home. I just can't bear to see how sick Mama is!"

"Everything will be okay Gracie."

My grandmother sat us down on the couch in the living room.

"Girls, your aunt and I have some very unhappy news to tell you."

My sisters and I held hands. We all knew what was coming.

" As you know your mother has been very ill. Her condition has gotten worse. She does not have very much longer to live."

"How much longer would you say she has?" I whispered… though I didn't really want to hear the answer.

My aunt looked at us grimly. Two months…maybe three."

"Should I not go back to school to take my summer classes?" Grace asked

"Your mom would want you to go back to school sweetheart. Even though she might be around to see you graduate take comfort in knowing that she'd be proud of you for completing your degree."

Melissa leaned her head on my shoulder. Her chest was heaving with sobs. I kissed her on the forehead softly and squeezed both of my sister's hands tightly.

Willie and I had a small wedding ceremony at the end of June at the Congregational Church in the center of town. Our honeymoon would be postponed until a later time because we weren't sure how much longer my mother was going to live.

My mother would pass away on a brisk fall day in mid-September. I had the unfortunate honors of calling Grace at school.

"Gracie, Mama died in her sleep last night."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Are you there sweetheart?"

"Yes." My sister's whisper was barely audible.

"Grandma wants you to come home so we can start planning the funeral."

"Okay."

"Gracie remember you Lissy and I we'll always have each other no matter what."

"I love you Jenny."

"I love you too."

The funeral for my mother would be that Saturday. In the days leading up to the funeral my sisters aunt grandmother and I spent time cleaning out the house preparing to sell it. I was in shock that we would be selling my childhood house that was full of so many great memories.

At the services I stood between my sisters and squeezed each of their hands tightly. "I love you guys." I whispered.

Melissa returned my squeeze. "We love you too Jenny."

"Sisters forever, friends for always." Grace whispered.

My parents passed away in 1921. Three years later on March 3rd, 1924 Willie and I gave birth to our daughter Kathryn Grace. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. We were over the moon to have our first child. When I asked Grace to be the godmother to Kathryn she was overjoyed.

By this point I was working full time in a lawyer's office as a clerk. Willie was still struggling to find work and this was very concerning to me. I didn't want to be the soul breadwinner in our house.

"Willie, you know I think you need to be more focused on providing for our family. You don't seem to take parenting very seriously~"

"Jen, sweetheart, get off my case would you? I'll find a job. You worry too much!"

He didn't realize I had every reason in the world to be worried.

The first two years after Kathryn was born were very rough. I was almost starting to regret marrying Willie but I then thought if I hadn't I wouldn't have this beautiful baby girl In my life. Kathryn Grace was my source of joy. I was so excited to eventually have another baby.

Willie eventually found a job but he had a bit of an issue keeping steady work. I cried myself to sleep every night once Kathryn was asleep in her crib wondering what the hell I gotten myself in to.

Grace and Melissa lived two or three hours away in Boston and New York. There were times when I really wished I lived closer to them I needed them right now more than anything. Willie still had very much of the college party mentality left in him and when he wasn't working he was going out to bars and getting drunk. He would be out late at night for two sometimes three days at a time.

By this time Grace had been hired by Oliver Warbucks one of the richest men in New York City. She called me on the phone one day.

"Jenny, I'm really worried about you. Why don't you and Kathryn come stay at the mansion for a couple days? You seem to be very stressed out."

"Your boss wouldn't think we're intruding?"

"Of course not. There's plenty of space here!"

"How long can we stay for? I think you could really use the change of scenery."

At that point I started to second guess myself.

"Coming to New York by myself with a baby could be too much of a hassle."

"I never considered that before. I'll ask Mr. Warbucks if I can take a few days off to come visit you then."

"Okay, when can you come visit?"

"Thursday- Sunday."

"Okay, great. I can't wait to see you."

"I love you Jenny."

"I love you too Gracie."

The cab from the airport dropped off Grace around 3:00 on Thursday afternoon.

"Auntie Grace!" Kathryn said running to greet her aunt.

Grace swept Kathryn up into her arms. "Hello, my sweet little girl!"

I entered the hallway behind my daughter and kissed my sister.

"Thanks for coming to stay Gracie. I hope Mr. Warbucks won't mind too much."

"He won't. He gave me some work to take with me so I won't fall too behind."

" Auntie Grace, can we go to the zoo to see the penguins?"

Grace nodded her head. "Of course sweetheart!"

"I love you!" Kathryn nuzzled into Grace's neck.

"I love you too Kathryn Grace."

We started cooking dinner. Willie got home from work around 5:30.

"Hello Grace."

"Hello Willie, dinner will be in about 20 minutes."

"Can't stay. Going out with co-workers tonight." Willie kissed me and then Kathryn and then ran upstairs to get changed out of his work clothes.

Kathryn looked sad.

"Daddy never has dinner with us on Thursdays. Always goes out with friends."

'Always gets wasted and comes home drunk at 1 in the morning.' I silently added to myself.

Grace, Kathryn and I ate dinner together in silence. Kathryn was in part time pre school in the morning so she was usually in bed by 8:30. Grace tucked her into bed that night.

" Auntie Grace will you read me a story?"

Grace nodded. "Of course darling."

Kathryn snuggled under her covers and they read a story together.

" Auntie Grace, will Daddy wake me up to kiss me goodnight when he comes home?"

"I'm sure he will precious.. .Grace leaned over and kissed my daughter on the forehead. I came in a few minutes

"Good night Auntie Grace."

"Good night angel."

Good night Mama. I love you!"

"I love you too baby girl."

I shut the door behind me and Grace followed me back downstairs to the kitchen.

"Kathryn seems to be well aware of her father's night time activities." Grace was shocked.

I nodded as I put some tea on for both of us. "We have a routine these days I suppose."

"Jenny, this type of situation can not possibly be healthy for the two of you. Has he ever been abusive?"

"No. Do you think it's possible that could happen?"

"I'm not going to rule it out."

"I can't divorce him Gracie. We promised each other we'd be with each other for better or for worse. Right now I'd say he's at his worst."

"I'm not saying you should divorce him. I just want you to be careful. The minute he starts to become violent I want you to come stay with me at the mansion… or call Melissa and go stay with her."

I had tears in my eyes.

"He told me before we graduated that he was so excited about becoming a father. Now I can't even tell how serious he is about being a parent. Sometimes I wonder if he even cares about our child."

"Jenny, don't even talk like that! Willie loves you and Kathryn very much. He just needs to get some sense in his head."

"Daddy could sure talk some sense into him if he was still here."

Grace shook her head. "I'm not sure about that. Remember when he first came over the house for dinner?"

I nodded. "Did he say anything to you afterward?"

Grace had tears in her eyes.

"He said he wasn't sure if Willie was a good match for you Jenny. He thought you could do a lot better than a slacker like him."

My heart fell in my chest. "He honestly said that?"

Grace nodded her head.

I burst into tears. "You know what Grace, I think Daddy was right about Willie. I really wish he'd wise up and show some maturity. I want to be able to trust him as family man and a good role model for our child."

Grace looked at me, fighting back tears of her own.

"Talk to him Jenny. You absolutely have to! If you don't want to have a miserable marriage you have to work things out with him."

Grace stood up pulled me to my feet and into her arms

"Everything will be okay Jenny. Please don't be sad."

"I love you Gracie. "

"I love you too."

Grace went to sleep in the guest bedroom and I went to sleep alone in the bed I shared Willie. Something that had become very common. I decided that Grace was right, I needed to have a serious conversation with Willie if we were going to have any kind of long lasting relationship.

I was jolted awake at 2:00am by flashing lights outside my window. I was shocked to see two police cars in my driveway. I pulled on my robe and slippers and went downstairs.

"Are you Jennifer Farrell?" the cop asked"

"Yes, I am. What's going on?"

"We have your husband in custody. He was part of a fight in a bar downtown. Got beat up bad too. He was very intoxicated. He tried to drive himself home but we had to take away the keys."

"Did you want me to come to the station pick him up?"

The cop nodded.

"I went upstairs to go put some clothes on. Kathryn was woken up by the noise.

"Mama, what's going on?"

"Daddy got in a fight. I'm going with some nice officers to get him at the police station. Go back to sleep sweetie pie. Aunt Grace is in the guest room.. Go lay down with her."

"I want to go with you Mama!" Kathryn looked very upset.

My three year old daughter did not have the capacity to understand the weight of the trouble her father was in. I did not want her to see him in a drunken stupor.

"Come with Mama Sweetheart. I'm going to take you to the guest room so you can lie down with Aunt Grace."

"NO! I want to go see Daddy!"

I was at a loss for what to do.

Grace was in the door way within five minutes

"What's going on Jenny? It's 2:30am."

"Kathryn, wait here for a second. I need to talk to Aunt Grace."

"Okay Mama"

Grace and I stepped out in the hallway.

"Willie got into a confrontation at the bar Gracie. The cops arrested him. I have to go to the police station to pick him up."

"Does Kathryn want to go with you?"

I nodded " I don't want her to see him in that kind of state Gracie. Will you stay with her and get her to go back to sleep? She has school at 8:15."

Grace nodded. "I'll take her in my room and read her another bedtime story."

Grace went back into my room. "Katie sweetheart let's go read another bedtime story. You'll see Daddy tomorrow."

"Okay Auntie Grace."

"Kiss mama goodbye."

"I'll see you a little later on sweetheart." Kathryn kissed my cheek.

"Tell Daddy I love him Mama."

My heart was breaking. "I will princess."

I went back outside, got in my car and followed the cop car down the driveway. I was very upset with Willie for getting me out of bed at 2:00 in the morning.

Willie was grinning at me when I came to pick him up.

"Missed a hell of a fight Jen. Wish you'd been there."

" Can't say a bar where grown men are fighting like second graders is a place I really want to be." I replied.

I signed his release papers. ""When can I come pick up the car?"

"Any time tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay."

I led Willie out to the car.

"You complete moron!" I screamed once we were in the car driving home.

"What did I do?"

"Is this what you do every night when you go on your drinking binges?"

"I don't get into fights like that one. That was a really big doozy."

"Willie, did you know Kathryn wanted to come with me to pick you up?"

"Where is she?"

"At home with Grace. I didn't want her to see you in this sorry state."

"What sorry state?"

"You honesty want our three year old daughter to see you drunk off your ass?"

"Problem?"

I sighed. "Willie, we're not in college anymore. You can't just go off to whatever bar you want to and get drunk."

"Where's your sense of adventure Jenny? Are you going to be a boring old housewife now?"

I was coming so close to slapping him in the face or getting out of the car and walking the rest of the way home.

"I intend to have some fun in my life… with our daughter… taking her to the beach….. taking her to the playground.. taking her to carnivals. Don't you want to be involved it that too?"

"Of course I do. I love Katie Bear."

"Then wise up. I'm warning you right now Willie if you continue to act like this I'm not going to stick around forever!"

"What happened to for better or for worse?"

"This is certainly your worst. I am hoping you will change."

We were silent for the remainder of the car ride. I was mentally exhausted but couldn't sleep once we both got to bed.

I woke up at 7:25 to help Kathryn get ready for school.

"Where's Daddy Mama?"

"Still sleeping sweetheart. He'll be awake when you get home from school."

"Won't he be working?"

Grace and I looked at each other.

"He's staying home today darling. He's not feeling too well." Grace said.

"When I'm sick Mama makes me chicken soup."

I gave Grace a look that said ' How the hell do you explain a hangover to a three year old?'

"Come on Katie. Auntie Grace is going to take you to school." Grace said.

"Are we going to the zoo after school today Auntie Grace?" Kathryn asked.

"Tomorrow darling. I'm taking you to the Children's Museum today after school."

"Hooray!"

Kathryn kissed me goodbye. "I love you Mama."

"I love you too baby girl. Have fun at school today."

Grace was back in 20 minutes with a box of muffins from the bakery.

"How long do you think it will take your husband to recover from his hangover?"

I shrugged. "No idea. He's supposed to go to work at 11:15. I don't know if that's going to happen or not"

"We have to go the police station to get his car right?"

I nodded. "We can do that after we finish eating."

"Okay."

After we returned from getting Willie's car at the police station Willie was there to greet us in the kitchen.

"Morning ladies." He said looking at me smugly.

Grace had fire in her eyes.

"You listen to me Willie You're acting like a hooligan. I have every right to have Jen and Kathryn come back to New York with me and stay at the mansion."

Willie's jaw dropped "We can't have Kathryn missing school Grace."

"She's in pre-school. I don't think she'll be missing too much if she misses two or three days of school. Her teachers are well away about what's been going on in this house."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really!"

"Gracie, calm down!" I said

'He's my husband, let me yell at him.' I added to myself.

"I will not be calm Jennifer! Willie, you don't even realize what kind of stress and anxiety your wife has been under while you're off on your wild and crazy adventures. Do you still think you're in college or high school?"

"Not really."

Before my sister could rant and rave anymore I jumped in

"Willie, Grace is right. My nerves have been on edge for the past few weeks. I don't know what to expect from you. I don't want our daughter to be subjected to your outlandish behavior."

"I haven't hurt either of you yet Jennifer and I never plan to."

"You may not hurt us physically but you hurt us emotionally when you disappear for days at a time or go out late nights and get drunk."

I sighed. "Willie I'm leaving on Sunday afternoon to spend time at Grace's for a few days. I'lll be back on Wednesday. You need some time alone to think about how you've been treating us."

"I haven't done anything wrong!"

"You actually have no idea how much you've done wrong."

Two years later two weeks after Kathryn turned five I gave birth to our second child. On March 25th 1925 Jacob Adam Farrell was bought into the world. Willie was delighted to have a son. "I promise I'll change Jen. I want to be here for both our kids." He promised at my hospital bedside the day Jacob was born.

Kathryn was so happy to have a little brother. She was constantly asking me what she could do to help take care of Jacob and did whatever she could to help. I was so proud of her for stepping up to help. Lord knows… the way Willie was acting I doubt he was going to be much help.

Things were fine for the first two months after Jacob was born. Willie seemed to be getting more steady out of work and staying out of fights at the bar. In May Kathryn graduated from Kindergarden. Grace and Melissa came up for the weekend to visit us and spend time with the baby. Willie was there for most of the weekend. then on Sunday night for the first time in several months he went to a bar to watch a baseball game on TV. He came home incredibly drunk and was throwing things around.

"Daddy STOP! Jacob is sleeping." Kathryn said.

"I'll do what I want." Willie hissed.

Kathryn ran from the room in tears.

"What the fuck Willie? Seriously!" I said.

Willie all of sudden retaliated and slapped me in the face.

I almost fell against the railing.

"You fucking bastard!" I screamed.

With that Jacob woke up

"See what you did." I hissed.

"You did that with all your screaming!" He said. I went up the stairs heading for Jacob's room and the bathroom to put some cream on my swollen cheek.

Grace came out of Kathryn's room and was enraged when she saw the bruise on my cheek.

"That good for nothing bastard! I knew he'd do this to you eventually."

"Grace, please don't go down there. He's very intoxicated. I don't want him to hurt you too."

Kathryn came out of her room. "Auntie Grace did Daddy hit Mommy?"

Grace nodded sadly. "Yes, he did sweetheart."

Kathryn started to cry.

Grace picked my daughter up and took her into her room. I went into the nursery to put Jacob back to sleep.

I went into my bedroom after Jacob was back to sleep. Luckily Willie had fallen asleep on the couch so I was in the bed alone. I heard the door to my room creak open.

"Mommy?"

Kathryn was standing in the doorway.

"Come her darling."

Kathryn climbed into bed next to me and snuggled down under the covers. She touched my check where the bruise was still tender.

Mommy, did Daddy mean to do that?"

"No baby girl. He was very angry. It was an accident."

"He loves you right?

I started to cry. "Yes baby. He loves you too matter how drunk or how angry he gets."

Auntie Grace is very mad at Daddy too."

I nodded. "Yes, sweetie. Things will be better in the morning I promise."

"I love you Mommy."

"I love you too Princess."

We slept in until 9:30 the next morning. Grace was supposed to leave to go back to New York at 4pm.

Willie was not on the couch. His car was not in the driveway either.

'He must have already left for work' I thought to myself.

Grace came into the living room from the kitchen. She looked shoclked.

"I found this note on the table. It appears to be from Willie."

I braced myself against the door frame of the kitchen.. The note was brief.

Jen Please know I will always love you and the children. I have decided to leave Chicago for the time being. I am not sure when I will return. I will send child support money when I am able to.

My life changed forever that Monday morning.