The Douglas Farm

The next day, instead of cooking her husband's meals or doing chores around the house, Lisa sat around and planned out exactly what she was going to say to Oliver when he got home from the fields. She had just about gotten everything down (or at least she hoped she had) when Oliver burst in through the front door and headed straight for the kitchen.

Well, here goes nothing, Lisa thought. She slowly counted to ten to calm her nerves and then headed into the kitchen after him. She found him sitting at his usual spot at the table stewing over a cup of coffee. She took a deep breathe and cleared her throat.

"Olivah, ve need to talk," she announced, breaking the silence in the small room.

"About what," Oliver demanded to know in a tense voice, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Us…vell, no, that's not right, ve need to talk about you," she retorted.

"What about me," he asked in an irritated tone.

"Olivah, you know as vell as I do that something is the matter here. You've changed, and not for the better. You're not the same as I used to know you. I suggest ve have a long talk and try to figure out vot's going on," she replied. She searched his eyes for any sign that she was getting through to him, but she only saw the anger intensify.

"Lisa, you're crazy! I'm the same as I always was! And I'm far as I'm concerned, this conversation is over," Oliver exclaimed. He then jumped up from his seat and stormed out of the kitchen through the back door.

In pure anger and frustration, Lisa let out something like a growl and stormed off in the opposite direction to the bedroom. She felt like tearing the room to shreds, but instead, in her native tongue, she began ranting and releasing all that pent up hostility.

"I've tried everything," she exclaimed in Hungarian. "I've sacrificed, I've suffered, I've vaited, I've tried everything to get through to that man, but he just won't listen! He's so stubborn and foolish and full of pride and I'm sick of it!"

The ranting made her feel a bit better, but Lisa could still feel so much anger dwelling inside her. She needed to let it out somehow. Suddenly she spotted a solution. Through the crack in the slightly open dresser drawer next to her bed she could see the scrapbook; the scrapbook her and her friends had put together out of love and concern for Oliver, and what did he do? In his anger and stubbornness, he tossed it aside like it was nothing.

Lisa ran over to the dresser and yanked the drawer open. She then took the book out, flipped open to the first page, and ripped it to shreds. Page after page she continued this action until there was a pile of shredded paper at her feet and an empty book in her hands.

Exhausted and run out of anger, Lisa flopped on to the bed and cried her heart out. She was now genuinely out of ideas; there was nothing left to do but to pack up and leave. She had told herself that that was the last and only remaining step if the talking didn't work, but she realized now that couldn't do it. She simply couldn't do it. She still loved him so much it hurt, and she hated it. She hated that he could hurt her so badly but make her love him so much. She didn't know what to do.

Suddenly a knock at the closet interrupted her train of thought. She sat up in bed as she watched the closet door slide open and fall off the tracks, revealing Eb on the other side.

"Eb," she exclaimed happily.

"I told you I would come back to visit, Mom," Eb said with a smile. Too tired to get up, Lisa scooted over to the edge of the bed and motioned for Eb to take a seat next to her. Once he did, she enveloped him in a hug.

"Oh Eb, I'm so happy to see you," she said. "I need you now more than ever!"

"What wrong, Mom," he asked with concern. "Have you been crying?"

"And ranting and destroying things," she replied sadly. "Oh Eb, I tried to talk vith my husband like you said, but it all fell apart. I've tried everything and it all vent down the drain. I don't know vot to do anymore."

"I'm sorry things didn't work out, Mom, but maybe it's a sign that you should leave," he replied.

"Vot," Lisa exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, I think if he sees that your serious about leaving, he'll finally come to his senses," Eb explained.

"Vell, maybe…" she said hesitantly, not really liking the thought of leaving at all. "Vot if he lets me leave?"

"Then he isn't worth sticking around for," Eb replied wisely. Lisa thought about this for a few seconds and decided that Eb was right. If he was any kind of husband, he wouldn't dare let her leave.

"You're right, Eb," she said in a determined voice. "I'm going to show him that I'm not fooling around! No more Mrs. Nice Guy!" She jumped up from the bed to begin packing, but this sudden motion caused her weak and malnourished frame to become dizzy. She began to fall, but once again Eb jumped up and caught her. He gently sat her down on the edge of the bed again.

"Mom, if there was ever a time to leave, it would be now. You can't keep going on like this," he said. He opened his mouth to say more, but suddenly they heard the kitchen door swing open and slam shut.

"That's my husband," Lisa exclaimed. "You better go before he catches you in here!"

"Okay, but I'll come back, I promise," Eb said.

"I know you vill," Lisa replied with a smile. Eb returned the smile and hugged her quickly. He then turned around and ran out the closet; but instead of leaving, he crept over to the window and peeked in through one of the smudges, just to keep an eye out on Lisa and make sure she would be alright.

Meanwhile, Lisa quickly replaced the closet door and ran over to the other closet to grab her biggest suitcase. She had just placed it on the bed and began tossing dresses into it when Oliver walked in.

"What are you doing," he asked as soon as he spotted her.

"I'm leaving," she replied evenly.

"Leaving," Oliver exclaimed. "Why!"

"I can't live like this any longer. It's killing me. I have to get out of here," she replied as she finished packing her various outfits. Now all she needed was shoes and personal belongings and she was out of there. She turned around and was about to head over to the bureau to get her jewelry when Oliver grabbed a hold of her.

"Where will you go," he demanded to know.

"Does it matter," she retorted bitingly.

"Of course it matters, you're my wife," he exclaimed.

"Am I? Because it sure doesn't seem like it anymore," she replied. She was about to walk away again, but Oliver tightened his hold on her. He pushed her back roughly to where she was standing.

"Look, you are my wife and I am your husband, and as your husband I say you aren't going anywhere. Do you hear me," he exclaimed as he shook her more violently than he meant to. Not being able to stand it any longer, Eb jumped up from his hiding spot and burst into the bedroom.

"Let her go," he commanded in a loud voice. Out of surprise, Oliver did let Lisa go, but unfortunately at the wrong moment. The combination of being shaken and Oliver's foot being in the way sent her flying backwards toward the ground. She was able to turn on her side and put her hands out before hitting her head on the cement floor, but nothing could change the fact that her own husband had just caused her violent tumble to the ground. A stunned silence followed.

Before Oliver had a chance to make amends for his actions, Eb rushed over to Lisa's side and helped her to her feet. He then placed himself between an angry Oliver and a stunned Lisa.

"What do you think you're doing," Oliver demanded to know. When Eb didn't answer, Oliver attempted to take a step towards his wife, but Eb outstretched his arms, creating an even bigger block between them.

"Don't get anywhere near her," Eb commanded in a tense, serious voice. "I don't want to hurt you, Mr. Douglas, but I will if I have to." Oliver's mouth hung open in shock.

"Who are you to tell me to not get anywhere near my wife," he exclaimed incredulously. "Now get out of my way!"

"NO," Eb yelled. Oliver attempted to go around him again, but Eb refused to let his guard down.

"This is ridiculous! It was an accident! Lisa, tell him…" he began to say, but she interrupted him.

"Oliver, maybe it would be best you just stayed away," she said sadly. Unbeknownst to anyone else, a deep hurt passed through Oliver, but his pride refused to let it show. Instead he threw his hands up in frustration.

"Fine," he exclaimed. If that's the way you want it, I'll be on the phone, calling the sheriff to have Eb escorted off the property!" Seeing that he wasn't going to be able to go past Eb at all, Oliver spun on his heel and headed out through the front door to go around the house and call the sheriff.

"Eb, maybe you better go before he gets the chance to call," Lisa said sadly. Eb turned around and managed a small smile.

"No, Mom. I'm staying right here as long as you need me. After all, you need someone to take care of you."

"I'm fine, really," Lisa replied, putting on a brave face. Besides, if the sheriff…" Lisa began, but Eb cut her off.

"I don't care. I love you, Mom, and I don't want or would never let anything happen to you," Eb replied.

"Oh Eb, I love you too," she replied. Not able to hold it in any longer, Lisa burst into tears. Feeling his own tears coming, Eb enveloped his "mom" in a hug and held her, as if it was the last time he would ever get to hug her again. Suddenly, his own tears began to spill over his eyes when he realized it probably would be.

Well, so much for not over-dramatizing. Oh well! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the latest installment! Reviews would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!