I squeezed her hand, and she continued. “That’s really what it comes down to. I mean, I love the affluent lifestyle that we enjoy, but I grew up dirt poor. I know how to survive on very little, and I could go back to that if I needed to. I’d prefer it if my kids didn’t have to grow up in a broken family, but plenty of kids do, and they turn out just fine. I’m guessing it’s better for children to go through their parents’ divorce than to live with parents who don’t love each other and stay together for the kids’ sakes. I don’t see how that scenario can work out in anyone’s best interest.”

Aimee looked at me and I shook my head, agreeing with her that staying together for the kids wasn’t a good idea. “It’s not the money or the kids that make me look the other way when he cheats, though.” A tear finally spilled over her lower lid and trailed down her cheek. “The problem is that I love him with all my heart, and I don’t have the strength to give him up.”

I closed my eyes, my mind reeling. Was this a warning glimpse into my future with Sam? I didn’t want to turn a blind eye, pretending that I didn’t know he was sleeping with other women. Is this the life that women who marry successful, handsome men are doomed to endure? Are they all philandering pigs?

The life this woman was describing was a picture of my biggest fear of the future with Sam. Like Aimee, I loved my man too much to let him go, but I knew that I had too much self-respect to let him walk all over me by openly cheating. It was an incredibly tough position to be in––turning away from the love of your life; but I knew that if faced with the same scenario, that is exactly what I would have to do, in order to survive.

I couldn’t pretend to understand the specifics of Aimee’s situation or attempt to give her any advice. I couldn’t give her answers, but I could give her the truth as I saw it. I met her gaze directly as I spoke. “You are a phenomenal woman. You deserve to be loved and cherished and appreciated. You deserve happiness.” I patted her hand as I added, “I’m so glad that I met you.”