He nodded. “You never said anything about that, Jill.”

“It was your place to straighten out your sister, Andy. She hated me from day one. I think I knew we were doomed from the beginning, but I hung in there because my mother told me that’s what a wife is supposed to do. And, no, I didn’t go running to my mother over every little thing. She has eyes and ears, and she’s a sharp lady. She also goes to the hairdresser that Amy goes to and got one earful after another.

“My mother is not a shiftless freeloader like you implied. You just parroted words you heard Amy say. Yes, you sent her a check every month. She told you to stop. I told you to stop, and you didn’t listen. You just kept sending those checks because it made you feel good to do it. Mom had two bad months after my dad died, when she couldn’t take money out of the bank. She is more than solvent. Here,” she said, tossing a check across the table. “Mom gave it to me this morning. She just put it all in an account, she never touched a penny of it. You never supported my mother, and I resent the implication that you did. Those are Amy’s words, and you damn well know it.”

The beer was going to his head. He should have eaten something. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Jill. We should have done this a year ago, two years ago. Hell, we should have done it on our honeymoon. You said you hated my guts, and now all of a sudden you want to save this marriage. Why? Because you might have to go to work to actually earn a living?” God, did I just spout that crap?

“We were both childish, hurling hurtful words at one another. I knew it wasn’t you saying those things. Yes, you were saying them aloud, but Amy is the one who put the words in your head. Like I said, I reacted. It’s true, Andy. Why can’t you see it? Why are you being so stubborn? Another thing, did you or did you not forbid me to get a job? You wanted me to stay home like Amy. I’m a damn good graphic artist, Andy. I can get a job at the drop of a hat. I did what you wanted, but I was bored out of my mind. I picked on you to get a rise out of you. It was the only way we communicated. Then what did you do? You ran to Amy, got her spin on it, then came back, and we’d go a few more rounds. Amy is our problem, Andy. We could make a go of this marriage if we both worked at it. That’s why I want us to go to a marriage counselor. I don’t want you to come back to the house unless it’s what you want. If divorce turns out to be our answer, I don’t want anything from you. I’ll move in with Mom until I can get settled. I’m going to leave now, and I want you to think about everything I just said. If you want to go ahead with the divorce, then that’s what we’ll do. Just make sure in your heart it’s what you want and not what Amy wants. You know where to find me.”