Her father appeared just as her mother walked off to check on dinner. “Crystal—it’s good to see you,” he said before dropping a kiss on her forehead. Before he moved away, his voice dropped to a near whisper as he added, “Your mother invited Bill. I tried to talk her out of it, but you know how she is when she makes up her mind.”
“Are you serious?” Crystal asked in a shrill voice just as there was a knock on the door behind her. Her father gave her an apologetic half smile before opening the door to her ex-husband. She didn’t even know why she was so surprised. Her mother did what she wanted, and in order to keep the peace, her father refrained from making waves. He’d managed to stand up to his wife a couple of times that Crystal could recall, the last being when Ella was in the hospital after being hit by a neglectful driver while she was crossing the street. Their father had kept her firmly in place then, refusing to let her continue to make snide comments to Ella’s friends in the waiting room. That had been his last stand. He hadn’t bothered to intervene as his wife continued to verbally bully his other daughter over her divorce and whatever else she could find fault with. Crystal loved him because, well, he was her father, but she’d lost her respect for the man years ago. He wasn’t the head of the family—he’d abandoned that position without a fight.
“Bill, good to see you again.” She heard him greet her ex-husband as warmly as if he were the long-lost son returning from war. In this household, it was obvious that Bill was the favorite and she was the disappointment. Oh, how she wished that she had the backbone to walk out and leave them all to gush over each other. But no, like the glutton for punishment that she was, she plastered on a smile and tried not to cringe when Bill stepped forward to kiss her cheek.
“How are you, Crystal?” he asked, sounding so formal she had a hard time remembering that she’d actually been married to the man for years. They’d had sex hundreds of times—maybe not good sex, but they’d joined together for brief encounters. How was it that they seemed so much like strangers now in such a short amount of time? It drove home to her the fact that she’d never really known him, and she certainly hadn’t understood what love was when she’d said I do.
“I’m great,” she finally replied to his question halfheartedly. Before she was forced to make further conversation, her mother rounded the corner and fussed over him as if he were some visiting dignitary.
“Bill, I’m so glad you could come tonight. It’s been far too long since you two have been over for dinner.” Crystal could only gape as her mother acted as if their divorce had never happened. She was almost afraid she would next be asking when they planned to have a baby.
Crystal stepped back from where her parents gathered around Bill and studied the man who’d once been her husband. She found it hard to believe that she’d ever thought him handsome, although many women would probably find him attractive. His brown hair was thick, and he kept it neatly styled. He pressed his dress pants perfectly, and his polo shirt had creases down the sleeves. She knew for a fact that he spent close to ten minutes picking any new lint off his black socks in the morning. He was so well put together that she’d always felt frumpy compared to him. Of course, the fact that he’d made subtle comments about her appearance hadn’t helped.
Bill had needed a meek wife who wanted nothing more in life than to devote her attention to his happiness. One who wouldn’t think twice about all of his OCD ways. What he’d gotten instead was her. And although she had spent years trying to please him, in the end, she’d discovered that to make him happy, she’d have to lose herself in the process. Sadly, without Ella having shown her what it was like to love and to be loved in return, she would more than likely still be attempting to be someone that she was not.
She found herself herded into the dining room and seated beside her ex-husband. Her mother generally served what she considered her prize-worthy meat loaf when she was entertaining, and tonight was no exception. She’d always found her mother’s go-to dish dry and bland but had never had the nerve to admit that aloud.
Her mother dominated the conversation throughout the meal, with Bill and her father occasionally contributing. As was the norm, no one bothered to include her, and for once, she was grateful.
She’d been quietly planning her escape when she felt a hand on her arm. She looked up to see Bill studying her. He cleared his throat, swallowing audibly. “Could . . .um . . . I speak to you for a minute?” He seemed to notice at the same time as her that their exchange had her parents engrossed. “Alone,” he added before getting to his feet. She considered his request for a moment before rising as well. She figured she’d have an easier time dealing with him than with her mother. And with any luck, she could make her getaway shortly afterward.