Brian was right. It did change things. Instead of drawing them together, the pregnancy pushed them further apart. But when she went into labor, he actually drove her to the hospital and stayed until their daughter, Courtney, was born. Melissa gave her the middle name of Kelly and gave Kelly’s mother a picture.

For the first few months Brian seemed like a new man. He held Courtney and was at least trying to pitch in. He’d bring her from her crib to the bed to be bottle-fed and then fall back asleep.

He still went on weekend trips but always found a way to get back for the Colts game on Sunday. And his anger issues seemed to surface more often. Early in their relationship he would get upset with Melissa and yell and say demeaning things. Melissa could play that game too, and did quite often, giving him the same and more.

The moment that changed everything came when Courtney was almost two. She was sitting in her high chair eating breakfast when Brian came down the hall, late for work. He’d overslept because he’d been out with his friends the night before.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he screamed.

Instead of yelling back, Melissa said something calmly to defuse the situation. But it was the look on Courtney’s face that got her. She would jump when Brian raised his voice in anger. That day Melissa made the decision. She knew if she went to somebody in the family, Brian would be there trying to talk her out of it, so she called Kelly’s mother.

“I’ve got two spare rooms in the back of the house,” the woman said. “Bring whatever you need and I’ll find the rest.”

Brian didn’t want a divorce and he made that clear. When he learned that Melissa had hired an attorney, he was livid. His mother called Melissa and talked with her. She had always been able to calm her son, and she knew he was dealing with a lot of anger inside.

“I had my doubts if Brian was ready for marriage to begin with,” she said. “I don’t think either of you knew what you were getting into.”

“I thought he was the one,” Melissa said.

“Well, I hate to see you two split, but I want you to know Courtney will always be my grandbaby. And you’re welcome over here anytime you want to come.”

Things escalated when Brian discovered the cost of child support. It was the longest season of Melissa’s life, with the lawyers going back and forth. When the judge granted the divorce with joint custody, she felt a part of her life close like a door. She and Courtney would set out on their own. And like always, Brian would just move on as if what had happened in the past was gone and didn’t make any difference.