//here’s the drama y’all been wanting.//
“Oh, Peter,” you sighed. Your husband was passed out on the leather couch in his home office again. He still had an empty tumbler in his hand. Taking it from his hand you set it on the end table. Glancing at the half-empty bottle that had been full two days ago made your stomach churn. Counseling wasn’t working, and he could never seem to make an AA meeting.
Peter’s breathing was easy, mouth slightly open, face relaxed. He was sleeping the sound sleep of a drunk. For a moment you just stood there admiring his beautiful face. Maybe you and the kids weren’t enough for him to fight his demons. Absentmindedly you rubbed your belly. Tears filled your eyes. What were you going to do?
“Good morning, darling,” Peter said in a chipper tone. “Breakfast smells great.” He leaned over to kiss your cheek.
All you could muster was a tight smile. He acted like nothing was wrong like he hadn’t passed out almost every night. Most nights he made it back to bed or you would find him on the couch, the office.
Peter cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast. “What time do your parents want us there this evening?”
“6:30pm.”
“You okay? You’ve been quiet.” Peter’s brows knitted together as he looked down at you leaning against the counter.
“Been a long week. Wish we didn’t have dinner at my parents’,” you confessed. And not for the reason Peter thought. Peter and your Dad merely tolerated one another and that was being generous. There was always so much tension in the room and it just filled you with anxiety.
“You and me both,” he concurred.
“I need a favor.”
“Anything for you, darling,” Peter replied with a wink.
It took everything for you not to roll your eyes. “Please. Don’t drink this evening.”
At 6:30PM sharp, you knocked on your parents front door. When your Mom opened the door a big smile crossed her face. Once inside, Peter helped you with your coat and hung it along with his on the coat rack. “You are absolutely glowing,” she gushed and pulled you into a hug. “And there’s my beautiful babies.” She hugged Julian and Audra.
“Thanks, Mom. You look great.”
“Peter, come here and give you favorite mother-in-law a hug.” She gave Peter a kiss on the cheek. “Let me get your picture.”
You rolled your eyes but obliged her. You gave her two minutes before she had the picture on Facebook, Instagram.
“There’s my baby girl,” your Dad said as he entered the room. Instantly Peter tensed beside you. You gave his hand a squeeze. “And my sweet grandbabies.”
“Hi Daddy.” you greeted him with a smile before you hugged him.
His demeanor changed dramatically when he greeted your husband. “Peter. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Harold. Happy Thanksgiving.”
The two men shook hands. “Thank you,” your Dad replied. “Still liking SVU?”
“It has its moments. Different beast for certain.”
“I can only imagine.”
Watching the interaction, you breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be as bad as you had originally thought.
When dinner was over you, your mom, sister-in-law, Sabrina and kids went to the living to talk and let the kids play. The last you’d seen Peter was about a half an hour ago. He had been nursing a brandy and smoking a cigar with your Dad on the balcony.
Yelling from the other room got everyone’s attention. Moving as fast as you were able to you find your Dad and Peter standing way too close. Both had their fists balled up, faces red, and yelling.
“She’s way too good for you. And you know that!” your father said to Peter and pushed a finger into his chest.
“Don’t touch me again, Harold,” Peter growled through clenched teeth.
“Peter. Dad. Stop this please,” you cried out. It was like you weren’t even there.
“You’ve brought her nothing but grief since you’ve been together. Following you around when you played baseball, supporting you when you finished law school, stood beside your decision to move back to New York. She gave up her career so you could further yours. Then the rape allegation…I doubt you’re even innocent.”
Peter pulled his fist back making contact with your Dad’s jaw. Your Dad stumbled back, regained his footing then lunged at Peter.
9Julian, Audra and your nieces started crying you hadn’t noticed they came into the dining room. Your brother-in-law jumped in trying to pull them apart only to be punched and pushed onto the table. Dishes and food flew everywhere.
“Stop. Please. Stop!” you yelled. “Peter! Please!”
“Harold!” your mom yelled.
“Stay out of this, Y/N. I’ve put up with this son of a bitch for 10 years,” Peter bellowed.
“You’ve put up with me? It’s the other way around. You’re a sorry excuse for a husband and father! I wish-”
Turning on your heel you put the kid’s shoes and coats on and left without a word. “Why is Pappy and Daddy fighting? It scared me.” Julian said crying.
“I’m sorry buddy. They shouldn’t act like that.”
Audra clung to you, sniffing. “I want Daddy.”
When you and the kids were halfway home your phone started ringing and buzzing with calls and texts from Peter, your mom, brother. And you ignored all of them. Finally, you texted your Mom letting her know you and the kids were home safely.
The kids were tucked in when Peter walked through the door. “What the hell Y/N. You just leave me there?”
“First of all lower your voice. The kids were scared, I was scared. I begged both of you to stop fighting. It was like you didn’t even hear me.” You crossed your arms over the chest. “I asked you not to drink just one night and you couldn’t do it.”
“So, this all my fault. Your Dad started all of this.” He pointed toward you. “You’ve never had my back when it comes to him.”
“Are you kidding me? I didn’t talk to or go around my Dad for years because the two of you hate one another so much,” you shot back. “And don’t worry, my Dad will be hearing from me too.”
Peter stared you down, he knew it was the truth.
Continuing your speech you spoke softer. “You get passed out drunk every night. One night Peter, that’s all I asked and you couldn’t do it. You have demons that I can’t excise. I refuse to live like this, not knowing when you’re coming home if you’ll come home drunk or-”
“Well when you have a life like mine, it’s hard not to drink.”
It was like a punch to the stomach. You swallowed back the lump in your throat. “Well, maybe you should find somewhere else to stay.”
“Wait. No. That’s not what I meant.”
“I know exactly what you mean Peter.” You pinched the bridge of your nose. “I’m going to bed. I can’t deal with any more today.”
“Y/N-”
“There are blankets and pillows in the hall linen closet for the guest bedroom. It’ll be a welcome change from passing out on your office couch.” Without a glance back, you went to your bedroom and shut the door. After finishing your bedtime routine you were answering texts from your Mom, brother, and sister-in-law. Your Dad didn’t text you, good decision on his part. When your phone dinged again it was a text from Peter.
[From: Peter 9:42PM] I love you.
[To: Peter 9:43PM] I love you too. But sometimes that’s not enough.
SVU addict 