Chapter Fourteen: Can't Do This Anymore

"Where have you been?" Jimmy yelled when Manny finally came home.

"Oh Jimmy! I forgot to call you, I'm sorry, I forgot," she told him.

"It's okay; I was just worried about you. I called your cell but you left it here. You didn't even get anything at work though, did you?"

"Actually, I got someone," she said, and pulled Emma into the house. She gave him a look that said I'll explain later and led Emma upstairs to the guest room. "I'll go with you tomorrow to explain everything to JT and you can get all your stuff. You'll probably be living here for awhile."

"Thanks Manny," Emma whispered. She rolled over and fell asleep almost instantly. Manny closed the door behind her and went to Bella's room to check on her. She was fast asleep in her crib. Then she checked on the rest of the kids and they were all sleeping too. When she got back to her own bedroom, Jimmy was already there, waiting for her.

"What is this all about?" he asked her.

"Jimmy, Emma's gonna have to stay with us for awhile. She's been having problems at home," Manny told him.

"What kind of problems?"

"Ever since JT lost his job, he has been drinking every night. He became an alcoholic and he hits her," Manny whispered.

"That's horrible. She can stay for as long as she needs to. She is a part of the family after all. I just can't believe JT would do something like that.

"Me neither." She wasn't going to tell him about how JT raped Emma. She talked with Emma before they went in the house and promised not to tell anyone; not even Paige. She told Manny that she'd tell people when she was ready. "Goodnight, I love you," Manny whispered and kissed her husband.

"Goodnight, I love you too."


"Jimmy got these for you this morning before he went to work," Manny said, handing Emma the annulment forms. "You just have to sign them here, and then we need to get JT to sign them."

"Remind me to thank him," Emma said, signing the papers without hesitation. "When can we bring these over to JT?" she asked.

"I was thinking that maybe you could stay here with the kids and I'd go alone," Manny told her.

"I'm not letting you over there by yourself!" Emma argued.

"He's not going to do anything to me. You said so yourself that he only gets that way when he's drunk. I'll go with Jimmy later to get all your stuff, but I think these should be signed right away and JT should know where you are," she explained.

"Fine, but don't take too long," Emma told her.

"I won't. I'll be back in a half hour." Manny hugged and kissed all her kids before leaving. She got in her truck and headed over to JT's house, a drive which took about ten minutes. JT opened the door the minute Manny knocked on it.

"Do you know where Emma is?" he asked frantically. He was obviously worried about her.

"Yeah, she's at my house and she's fine," Manny told him.

"Why is she there?"

"We need to talk." JT stepped aside and let Manny into the house. "When did you lose your job?" she asked him as soon as she sat down on the couch in the living room.

"I don't remember the exact time, why?" he asked suspiciously.

"Because you've been drinking ever since it happened."

"I don't think that's any of your business Manny," JT stated angrily.

"It is when you're abusing my best friend. She's your wife JT! What is wrong with you?" Manny yelled.

"What are you talking about? I don't abuse Emma!" JT yelled right back.

"I've seen the proof. Every time you get drunk you hurt her. Why do you think she doesn't come home at night very often?" Manny lowered her voice. "This is ending now." JT was silent as Manny shoved the papers in his face.

"This cannot be happening to me. I didn't even know Manny, I swear I didn't. I don't even remember what happens when I get drunk, honest," he tried to reason with her.

"That doesn't matter JT. Until you get help, it's over. I don't even know if she'll want you back after that," Manny said coldly.

"I don't want Emma to be unhappy. I love her too much." He reluctantly signed the papers and handed them back to Manny. "Let me help you pack up her stuff so you don't have to come back again."

In fifteen minutes, all of Emma's things were in boxes in the back of Manny's truck. All there was to pack were clothes, makeup, books, and photographs. JT told Manny to have Emma make a list of furniture and other things that she'd want. Manny could tell that he was heartbroken, but she couldn't think of any other way to protect her friend. She called Emma when she was on her way home.

"How'd he take it?" Emma asked when she picked up the phone.

"Pretty well actually. He was definitely heartbroken, but he helped me pack your stuff up. Do you think that you'll go back to him if he gets help?" Manny asked.

"I don't know Manny. Probably not. I don't think it was meant to be. You didn't tell him about the baby, did you?" Emma asked her.

"No, of course not. You asked me not to, so I didn't. You have to tell him some time you know."

"I know. Now's just not the right time, believe me. But yeah, Jonathan is complaining that he's gonna miss therapy," Emma said.

"Oh I almost forgot. Tell him I'll be home in a few minutes. See ya." Manny flipped her cell phone shut and drove the rest of the way home. JT may have been calm about signing the papers, but Manny had a feeling that he wasn't going to stay so quiet.