“Don’t you dare try and twist Bible stories around to justify your actions. Jesus didn’t bring the prostitute home to his wife to stay with him and his daughter. Tim, don’t you remember what that woman did to you or are you just remembering the times when she was your loving wife, before she started selling her body?”
“My love for a wife is now reserved for you and only you. Our bond is even stronger because we have a daughter together. Without question, my primary commitment is to you and Jessie, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have compassion for others, including my ex-wife.”
“Tim, if you love me and our daughter like you say you do, you won’t ask me to let Jasmine to stay in this house.”
Tim got an angry look on his face Abby had never seen before. “Abby don’t you ever give me a ‘If you love me’ ultimatum again. My love for you does not depend on you doing something for me, likewise, your love for me can’t depend on such things either. You have praised me before for being one of the most charitable men you ever knew. Now, you want me to turn away a woman in need? How many times have we helped out relatives, friends, neighbors and fire and flood victims? Most of the latter category were people we didn’t even know the names of. Jasmine is someone I know, and she needs help that we can afford to give. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the end of the story.”
Abby was furious now and didn’t hold back her feelings. “I guess that is supposed to make everything different. While you’re at it, why don’t you just move her into the master bedroom and let her have any of my newer clothes she wants? You might as well sleep with her too. Poor women, she probably hasn’t had sex in the last 30 minutes. You can help her with that too for all I care.”
“Abby, jealousy does not become you. We are helping a human being regain some semblance of self-support. Nothing more. Now help me finish making the bed or leave and let me do it.”
“Hold it right there, mister! This is my house too and I say that woman is not staying! Tim, make a choice, either send her away or . . . or . . . I will take Jessie and go live with my mother.”
Timothy sighed loudly and spoke as if holding his temper. “I just warned you about ultimatums. I believe I’ll take the third option.”
“I didn’t give you three options.”
“Option 3 is for me to take Jasmine and get a room in a motel. One with two beds. One for her and one for me.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Jasmine came hobbling on her crutches into the room wearing Abby’s robe. “It sounds like I need to go, Tim.”
“If you go Jasmine, I go.”
“Go then, Tim and take the whore with you. See if I care.”
“Jasmine, wait here while a get a few of my things. We can stop at Walmart and get what you need for the night and tomorrow.”
“Tim, just forget it. I ruined our marriage, and I don’t want to harm your current marriage. Just let me leave.”
“Jasmine, I’m doing what my conscience says is the right thing to do. I will be going to a motel room tonight whether you agree to come with me or not. I can’t stay here tonight knowing my wife can be so hard-hearted and hard-headed. I have to live with my conscience even if it means not living temporarily with my wife.” He went upstairs.
Turning to Jasmine, Abby said, “Now, look what you’ve done. It has taken me years to get him over the heartbreak from your slutty actions before your divorce. God forgive me but I wish you were dead!”
“Abby, that’s been a real option I’ve considered several times during my life including now. If you’ve got a gun handy, I’ll do it right away. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I’ll go outside so I don’t stain your carpet with my blood.”
“I wish I had a gun to give you. You might as well leave now. There is no way Tim will leave me and our daughter. He’s just bluffing about leaving to get me to cave and let you stay here. You better go before he comes back down!”
“I was going to, but the way I’ve seen you treat Tim makes me want to piss you off as much as I can. I owe him a lot. He was a wonderful husband and lover. I treated him like shit, and I’ve been punished for it, but I’ll be damned if I will let anyone else do it to him too.”
Tim came down the stairs. He had one bag with him. “Last chance, Abby. Do both of us stay or do both of us go?”
“Tim, she just admitted that she wants to stay here just to spite me. I think she plans to destroy our marriage and get you back. Can’t you see that?”
“Is that true, Jasmine? If so, that’s not going to happen.”
“Not when I first came here. The more words I hear from the mouth of that ‘thing’ you married, the more I would love to rescue you. Tim, I know you. You couldn’t leave her long term because of your daughter and because, unlike me, you keep your vows. Jessie needs you, especially with a mother like her in the house. Give me a little money, drop me off at a motel, and I’ll be out of your life again.”
“Abby, I think I need to leave this house no matter if it’s with Jasmine or not. Tonight, you’ve shown me a side of you I have never seen before nor thought I ever would see, and it severely disappoints me. I need some time to consider where we go from here and how we can salvage our marriage and our family. Jasmine, I’m going to the motel. Are you coming with me or not?” They both headed towards the door.