The Beauty of Staying Together

Inside the apartment, the interrogation began. "Why did it take you so long to get some sugar?" There was calmness in his voice. But Calvina knew anger boiled beneath his composed exterior. She had seen his fury erupt many times before.

"I was home for over twenty minutes before I knocked on Roberta's door," Duane continued calmly.

"We... we... got to talkin'," Calvina stammered as she fiddled with the twist tie on the bread bag. "She's really nice, Bonnie, I mean." Calvina stood at the kitchen counter, afraid to turn around to face her husband. Duane didn't respond. It always means a beatin' when he's quiet like this. Without turning her body, Calvina glanced around to see what Duane was doing. She couldn't quite catch a glimpse of him. She was afraid to turn completely around and face him. It just might mean getting smacked in the face. "Why didn't you go to work today," she asked trying to control the tremor in her voice.

"Because I wanted to see what you were up to when I'm at work. So I came back and sure enough you're off foolin' around." There was sarcasm mixed with anger in his voice.

Calvina started to turn around and caught a hard, backhand blow to her face. She screamed and began to cry as she scrambled to get into the living room and out the door away from him. But Duane was too fast for her. He gripped her blouse and swung her around. Nothing from the past two years of abuse had prepared her for what was about to happen....