My Everything

Chapter 2: Ending Arguments

"I'm leaving." She said

"WHAT?!" I yelled back at my wife. We were arguing again, I couldn't believe it. Lately every time I came home things between us were getting worse.

"I'm leaving, Billie. I CAN'T STAND THIS! I'm always alone with the kids. I need someone here with me. I need MY HUSBAND, but unfortunately for he's always gone!" She yelled at me. I glanced towards the stairs knowing there was no way the boys weren't hearing all of this.

"You knew what this would be like when we got married. We talked about this. I'm a musician, it's my job!" I yelled trying to get her to understand like she used to.

"That's just it you always choose your band, and your friends over your family!" She turned and stomped further into the living room. I followed her, not really wanting to continue arguing. She whirled around on me, but before she could utter a word I cut her off.

"What do you want me to do, Adrienne? Quit my band, something that's my life?" I was pleading with her now; out of the corner of my eyes I could see the boys. They were sitting wide-eyed at the top of the stairs.

"NO BILLIE, I WANT A DIVORCE!" She yelled loudly. I vaguely heard one of the boys start to cry as my world, in an instant, came crashing down around me. I reached for her but she moved out of my reach.

"Why? Don't you want to try and work this out? I don't understand." I was getting desperate. I didn't understand where all this was coming from.

"I've tried Billie, I've tried. I just…..I just don't love you. I don't love you anymore." She looked tired, but I could see the seriousness in her eyes.

"So you're just going to let fifteen years of marriage go? Fifteen years, Adie! I love you! Why can't you try? Why can't you try just once more?" I was close to her again; I dropped down on my knees, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She grabbed my arms and stepped out of them. ~She doesn't even want me to touch her. ~ I thought, looking back she hadn't touched me in a long time, let alone showed me any affection. My heart was breaking. "Billie, I can't be with you…" She started but I interrupted.

"Adie, I know that we can do this. We can make this work. I know we can. We love each other." She sighed, pinching her nose in frustration.

"BILLIE, I DON'T LOVE YOU. I'M IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE!" She yelled. Her eyes widened, this was obviously something she hadn't meant to say. I stood up breathing heavily, my heart breaking more. ~She didn't. ~ I thought.

"You what? You…you love someone else? You've been cheating on me?"

"I didn't plan it, Billie, you have to believe me. I love him. He…he makes me happy…" I cut her off heart broken and furious.

"YOU CHEATED ON ME? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU, ADRIENNE. I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOU." I yelled. Taking a breath I continued. "I've never touched or looked at another woman because I loved you and this family. I wouldn't do anything to ruin that." I was beyond pissed. "And to think, this is how you repay me for staying loyal to you." A thought came to me. Looking at her I asked, "Do the boys know this guy? Have you brought him into my home," I paused, "Into my bed? When I'm not here? Had him around my kids?"

"Billie…" Adrienne started. Suddenly Joey was there next to me.

"STOP IT!" He yelled. "Don't lie mom, you were going too." He looked at me. "He's been here dad, loads of times. We don't like him here. Mom doesn't care."

"Joey, go to your room." Adrienne commanded stiffly.

"NO! MOM, you're hurting dad all the time and he doesn't even know. He deserves to know." He stated defying her. At one time the boys were all about Adrienne. Looking back I could see that that had slowly changed.

"Joey," I said touching his shoulder, "it's okay. Go on upstairs, you guys don't need to see any more of this, please son." He turned and looked at me.

"Okay dad." He replied quietly giving me a hug. Glaring at Adrienne he whispered to me. "She's not mom anymore. You deserve better." Releasing me he walked up the stairs and took Jake's hand leading him away. I turned away from them once they were out of sight and looked at Adrienne.

"You are a bitch. I can't believe you. You involved our kids in this. Exposed them to this, you're telling them that it's okay to do what you're doing. How could you? What about them? Did you think about how they would feel about all this? What they think when I'm away and their mother had some random man at the house?" I fired one question after another at her. She stood there nonchalantly, like she didn't have a care in the world.

"I'm taking the boys with me. They'll see he's not a bad guy. They'll get over this." She stated. I just looked at her in disbelief. ~Who is this woman? She's not the woman I married. ~

"I don't know who you are anymore, but I will tell you right now, I will fight you for those boys. They are mine too." I said, "You want a divorce, fine. But, believe me I will have those boys, they are mine and that guy, whoever he is will not be their father. I'M THEIR FATHER." I stated loudly, staring at this woman that I no longer knew.

(Joey POV)

They were arguing again. I tried to keep Jake from hearing them, but they were being too loud. I looked down at Jake, who was sitting next to me with tears in his eyes.

"Why does mom have to argue with dad so much when he's home?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"I don't know Jake, I wish I knew. I also wish they wouldn't." I didn't say anything to Jake 'cause he didn't need to know, but mom always picked the fights dad never started them. It was like mom wanted to fight with dad. It got quiet in the living room as I heard the end of mom's statement. "Stay here, Jake." He nodded tearfully. I quickly walked down the stairs and got in between them.

"STOP IT!" I yelled. "Don't lie mom, you were going too." I looked at dad. "He's been here dad, loads of times. We don't like him. Mom doesn't care."

"Joey, go to your room." Mom stated glaring at me. I knew that she was furious with me but at that moment I didn't care.

"NO, MOM! You're hurting dad all the time and he doesn't even know. He deserves to know."

"Joey," Dad interrupted me. "It's okay. Go upstairs. You guys don't need to hear any more of this. Please, son." I sighed. I didn't want to leave him alone but I couldn't leave Jake either. I glared at mom as he hugged me. "She's not mom anymore. You deserve better." I whispered.

I looked at him before walking up the stairs. Taking Jakes hand I lead him to the bedroom. "I can't believe you did that Joey." He looked at me in amazement.

"I had to Jake. I had to do it for dad." Jake nodded. I knew he didn't completely understand what was going on between our parents and for once I wish I didn't.

(Billie POV)

"I'm not going to keep the boys from you, Billie." She stated. "You are their father, they will just have to get used to another man in my life."

"You're unbelievable. They don't need to get used to him. They have already decided, Adrienne. At least Joey has. We will see what happens in court. I want my boys." Adrienne sighed.

"I'm going to the guestroom. I'll be gone in the morning." She said as she walked off.

As soon as Adrienne disappeared I went up to Joey's room. Checking first to see if she was there, she wasn't. ~Couldn't even take the time to check on them. ~ I thought as I knocked on his door.

"Hey guys. Can I come in?" I asked them with a small smile. Joey nodded but Jake didn't say a word. "Sorry you guys had to hear all of that, it shouldn't have happened."

Joey gave me a grimace while Jake spoke up, "Daddy, are you and mommy getting a divorce?"

My youngest son didn't have a clue what that meant but I couldn't lie to him. He was so little, only six years old and having to deal with all this.

"I'm sorry Jake, Joe, but I'm pretty sure that we are." Joey nodded understanding, but Jake started crying, tears falling down his small face.

"I don't wanna go daddy." He cried, this made tears come to my eyes, as he hugged me.

"I know buddy, I don't want you to go either but right now I can't do anything about it. You need to take care of each other since I can't be there." I sighed as I hugged Jake tighter. I looked at Joey, "Joe, you take care of your brother. He's going to need you more than ever. He won't know exactly what is going on."

Joey got up from his chair and gave me a nod hugging Jake and me. "Of course I will Dad, always." ~Where would I be without these boys? ~ I thought hugging them both back. "Okay guys let's get you to bed. Try not to think of tomorrow. Love you guys."

I helped Jake get ready for bed; once they were both in their night clothes I tucked them in kissing them both on the forehead. I went to the room I used to share with Adrienne. I closed the door sliding to the floor. I wept silently. I had come home a month ago a happy man, I was leaving tomorrow a broken one. I was losing everything. The one person I believed to be the love of my life was walking out of my life into another man's arms and I didn't know what was going to happen with my boys. I got up slowly and walked over to the bed exhausted. Emotionally and physically exhausted I fell into a fitful sleep hoping that I would wake up tomorrow and all this would be a horrible dream.