It was on the night of my 21st anniversary and I was waiting for Bob, my husband. Just so you know, my name is Amy Daniels, I am 39. I met Bob Daniels at high school, what you would call high school sweethearts. But we weren't really, I got pregnant at 17, married just after my 18th birthday, before given birth to Bob 'Bobby' Jnr, a few years later I had Sophie, my little angel. The marriage was always a bad idea, but we had enough love for each other to stay married, or so I thought. Bob provided for us, while I stayed at home looking after our children, but once they went to school I became bored with just hanging around the house so decided to find something to do, I wanted to get a job. Now Bob was raised by very strict parents, which is the reason we married, and they believed that a wife stayed at home while the husband provided. Now I agreed to marry Bob under their strict ways, just for the children.
But when Bob strictly forbade me not to look for a job, I stood my ground and told him no, then he got his parents involved, and I told them no as well. They left after a few hours of us shouting at each other, 3 against one, was not very fair, my parents died 2 years before in a car crash, so I was on my own. But I refused to budge on the subject; it was my choice not anyone else's, especially when their reasons for me not to work were so old fashioned. After his parents left, not happy with Bob and his choice for a wife, especially one that opened her mouth too much, he hit me. Well hit me is such a tame word, I ended up in the hospital. That night changed everything for me and the children. I filed a report and charged him for assault. He was put on probation, did 50 hours of community service and was told to attend a class to help with his anger and violence, even though he had never acted violent towards me before. I allowed him to stay with us; the children still needed a father.
He was warned that I would not stand for anymore of his parent's views on what I did, and that if he ever hit me or the children again, the marriage would be over. He accepted these terms and never did get violent again, and only he would visit his parents, I was afraid of there influence on the children. So the marriage was ok, if you can call it that, and I got a job, working in a law firm as a secretary. After a few months I decided that I wanted something more and over the next 6 years I studied for the bar exam to be a lawyer, with being the parent who still had to make sure the kids got to school and was there when they got home, I had limited time to work and study, but I eventually made it. Once I passed the bar and the children were old enough to look after themselves in getting to school and then home again on there own, I became a lawyer. Not anyone amazing, but I was better than average and I was also earning more than Bob which only but more strain on our marriage.
Now here we are 10 years later, successful woman, lawyer, wonderful kids and a nice home. I was wearing a newly purchased evening dress, black, spaghetti straps and the hem nearly touching the floor. I had my hair and make up done especially for the night, it cost $100, but it was worth it to look special for tonight. Even though there was little love in our marriage, I tried to have 4 special nights with each other, each year. Valentines Day, His Birthday, My Birthday and our wedding anniversary. Tonight being our 21st, I wanted to do something special and had booked a table at a very exclusive restaurant; it even had an area for dancing, which is the reason to look spectacular. I had to book it 3 months ago, and rang them last night and this afternoon to just double-double check the table was booked. All I was doing now was sat waiting for Bob to come home. And waited. As with any woman, I was ready early, nearly 3 hours early and with 30 minutes left, before we had to leave, and leave I would, he was cutting it fine. Suddenly the door opened and I really hoped it was Bob, but when they walked in the room it was Sophie, my 19 year old daughter.
"Wow mom, you look beautiful." It was a very nice compliment which she always gave me, not like Bob, Sophie even came with me to help choose a dress to wear, the one I was wearing; Sophie said it really showed off my wonderful slim figure.
"Well, thank you honey. I really needed to here that after hours of getting ready, pity your father could not appreciate me as much."
"Why, where is he?"
"A no-show so far and I do not want to ring him."
"Why not?"
"Because if he forgets, that's it." This was probably the 10th time in the last 5 years he had missed our evenings. I took Sophie to some of them, but the excuses he gave every time, were all different and probably all lies, part of me believed, but did not want to, was that he was having an affair.
"What if I ring, just sneakily, like I just wanted to say hi and see where he is?" It would a least give me piece of mind, especially if he said he was on his way.
"Would you, I wouldn't normally ask but tonight it very important for me, well us, but I need to go soon, so please if you could be discrete, find out where he is?"
"No problem mom, anytime I can help." With that she used the house phone to ring his office. I did not stay around to listen, I was too anxious, so I left Sophie to it. It was 5 minutes later that Sophie found me on my bed; she looked sad but also angry as she entered the room. She sat next to me nervously.
"Mom do you want the truth or a simple Dad wont be joining you tonight?" Oh my god, whatever she had to tell me, had to be a bombshell, part of me did not want to hear what Sophie knew, but I had never seen Sophie like this and if she didn't tell me, it would eat her up inside. Was I prepared for what she was about to say, yes, this was it for Bob, to cause Sophie to feel this way, and make me look like an idiot for believing in us was at an end, what a waste.
"Tell me everything honey, and whatever it is, I won't be angry, especially at you, so please tell me?"
"I rang dad at work, they said he has not been in today, called in sick. So I thought he might have gone to a buddies or something. So I rang his mobile and a woman answered. I just got my new phone and number today, and with the free calls I used my mobile to ring his, I don't know why but I pretended to be his secretary at work, I asked for Bob, she said he was in the shower. I asked where they were and she said at her house, getting ready to go out, they had just got back from a day trip to the beach. So I asked if she could tell me where as I had to get some papers signed tonight by him. I've got her name and address if you want it?" She gave me a piece of paper. I had to find out, so I read the name Sophie had written, I knew the name. It was Monica Graves, the daughter of Bob's boss; I had only met her once about 5 years ago at a Christmas party at Bob's work.
"Was that it, did you speak to your father?" She shook her head.
"I am sorry mom, maybe I was wrong to do that, and to tell you?"
"You have nothing to be sorry about Sophie, in fact you were very smart, and I would rather know then not know."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I have a reservation to a very fancy restaurant, and my wonderful daughter to accompany me." She smiled at this and rushed off to get ready. "You have 19 minutes."
18 minutes later Sophie came downstairs. I was stunned, she looked so beautiful. So mature not like the little angel I always saw her as. She was a woman, her figure was full, and she let her straight blond hair flow down her back, her make-up was tastefully done. She wore a similar dress to mine, only hers was red.
"Sophie you look amazing, you have got to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." I cried a little to emphasise just how truly stunning she was. She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and lightly dabbed my face so not to ruin my make up.
"Please don't cry, you should be happy. Forget about dad, you deserve your special night, and I felt I really needed to make a good impression."
"You did wonderful, I love you so much. And I am happy; nobody but you makes me that way." And I kissed her on the cheek. I heard a beep from outside, our taxi was here. We both checked ourselves in the mirror, before Sophie held out her arm and I took her elbow as she took me out for what was to be a night full of surprises.
