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"Trudy!!"
The woman stared down at her cup of coffee, sighing heavily. The twins were asleep, Penny was at school, Suga Mama was out with Papi... it was the right time.
"What are you yelling about now? Don't wake the babies." Trudy stepped up behind the couch, her hands on her hips.
Oscar looked up. "Did you-" He paused, noticing something off about her face. "Are you not wearing makeup today?" He changed his question. The huff from Trudy told him all he needed to know. "I was just gonna ask if you could make that pie again, the one you made last night."
"I'm out of ingredients. I used the last of our brown sugar in that pie." Trudy cursed herself for not confronting him. This was her chance, come on, come on!!
Oscar laughed softly, hoping he could come up with a clever joke quick enough.
"I want a divorce." Trudy finally blurted, her arms crossing.
"Hold on, I'm-" The man leaned closer to the TV, before he comprehended her words. "You're- you're not serious, right?"
"I am. I've thought about it for months. I want you out." Trudy stood firm, holding back her tears and praying she looked intimidating.
The silence that followed was deadly. Oscar stared in disbelief, while Trudy occasionally glanced away.
Trudy could only hope. Every bit of hope in her body spread out across everything that could go wrong. She worried about losing her home, her kids, being disowned by her own family, Oscar getting angry or violent, but most of all she worried about backing down. Too many times had the time been right and she never took the step. Too many times had Oscar guilted her out of this. She was going to do it.
"Baby, you know I love you!" Oscar stood up, walking around to where Trudy stood.
The woman backed away. "Then act like it!"
"I do! I buy you gifts, pay these bills, hell, I gave you three kids!" Oscar gestured around, his smile hiding a deep shame.
"I could care less about jewelry, I was the one that suffered for nine months and brought those kids into this world, and I'd like you to pick up a single bill that's in your name." Trudy fought back, her heart pounding in her ears. "What have you ever done? You sit and watch TV, you complain, you don't even bother with "your" kids, and you've been lookin' at every woman except me!"
"Can a man not be a man? Can I not have a break every once in a while?" Oscar laughed. "Honey, I think you're just- just-"
"Just what? Sick of your shit? I am. I'm so tired of you, Oscar!" Trudy raised her voice and one hand, stepping closer. "Fifteen years of my life I've tried and tried to love you and you do nothing but whine about it!" She let her tears openly fall. She could hardly even see her husband through the blur and sting in her eyes.
"When do I ever whine?! All I hear is you whinin' about the dishes or dinner or shopping-" Oscar huffed, dropping his smile.
"I care about more than that!" Trudy stopped herself from reaching out and shaking the buffoon in front of her.
"Then act like it!" Oscar mocked her tone.
"You're not doing this to me again!" Trudy wiped her tears. "I'm done with you! I want you out and I never want to see you again!"
"You can't kick me out of my own damn house!" Oscar protested. "Who bought this house?! Who pays your bills?! Who owns that car?!" He listed.
Trudy turned on her heel and returned to the kitchen, grabbing her purse.
"Yeah and you can't fight back on that! I gave you everything I can! I'm not the one getting kicked out!" Oscar followed her, pointing to himself.
Trudy shoved a wad of cash into Oscar's chest, hard enough for him to stumble back. "There! I bought the house! Your money back times eight! You can take that damn car!"
Oscar stared at her, then down at the money. "Five th-" He sighed. "What are you gonna do about the kids? Huh? Gonna make them grow up without a daddy?"
"They already are!" Trudy hissed. "Felix is more of a father to them than you've ever been."
"Oh so you're leaving me for Felix? I'd be happy to trade for Sunset!" Oscar rolled his eyes.
"I'm not saying that, I'm saying a man that's lived across the street for two months is miles better at being a father to BeBe and CeCe than you have for an entire year! Don't even start with Penny, 14 years and you haven't once had a decent conversation with her!"
Oscar let his hand flash up, his palm meeting his wife's cheek.
Trudy let out a yelp as she fell back, hitting the table.
Silence fell on the two again. Oscar backed away, while Trudy just held her cheek.
"I'll take my shit and leave, then." Oscar huffed, before turning around.
Trudy flinched as the door slammed. She used the last of her strength to move back to the living room, glancing out the window to see her ex-husband frustratedly enter his car. She slumped back down and just barely got to the couch before she broke down sobbing.
Her cheek stung, her stomach turned with anxiety and dread, her head spun. She felt like she was left in a glass box that had shattered, surrounding her with broken shards. The walls were down, but she wasn't free.
Penny watched from afar, seeing her dad slam the door and march to the car, immediately pulling out and driving the opposite way down the road. She didn't think much of it, until a glance in the window showed her mom hunched over on the couch. Penny ran to her door and shut it behind herself. "Mama, what happened?!"
Trudy hardly had time to process her own feelings, feeling the ceiling of glass crash down over her when she heard her daughter's voice. "I ca- w- we'll talk later, h-honey-"
Penny tossed her backpack down and sat beside her mother, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Is dad upset?"
Trudy let a few more sobs shake her body, before she responded. "D-divorce." It was all she could manage.
"Oh no he didn't!" Penny stood up. "What about the twins?! Suga mama?! He can't just run off like that!"
"Dear please-" Trudy finally lifted her head, holding Penny's arm. "It was my choice-"
Penny saw the red mark on her mom's cheek and felt almost breathless. "He.. did he hit you?"
Trudy closed her eyes and lowered her head, scrubbing the tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
"He's not my daddy anymore." Penny sat down and crossed her arms. "I understand why you did it, mama."
The door creaked open again, and only Penny looked up.
"Oh boy, do I have the story for you!" Suga Mama laughed, feeling the energy in the room and stopping. "What's happening? And where's that boy run off to again, I saw him speedin' down the road like he owned it."
Penny stayed quiet, only shaking her head and turning back around.
Suga Mama turned to Papi, nodding. "We'll talk tomorrow."
"Mis disculpas, me voy. Espero que todo esté bien." Papi took off his hat as he left, closing the door behind him.
"Not even Papi wants to laugh." Penny huffed, melting farther into the couch.
"What's the matter, Trudy?" Suga Mama walked to her side of the couch, holding her hand out.
Trudy felt her sadness ease a bit. Even though she complained about the woman living with them, she had grown to enjoy her company. Even if she was Oscar's mother, Trudy felt perfectly comfortable around her.
"Now what happened to your face?" Suga Mama lifted Trudy's chin, looking at the red mark still left on her cheek. "Don't you tell me-"
"Daddy did it!" Penny sat up. "Mama wanted to split up, and I guess he hit her!"
"Penny, calm-" Trudy held a hand out, quickly being interrupted.
"Oh no he didn't!" Suga mama slammed her cane on the floor. "No son of mine will be hitting any woman, especially not his wife!" She stormed back to the front door. "Where'd that coward run off to?! Hittin' a lady then speedin' off-" Her voice turned to a frustrated mumble.
"I don't know!" Trudy cried out, letting her head fall back.
Suga Mama sighed and realized none of them knew. "If he steps foot back in here he's gone. Forever. I'm sorry I ever brought him into this world, Trudy."
Trudy looked to the staircase when she heard faint cries, moving to get up but being held down by Penny.
"I'll get them, mama. You take as much time as you need." Penny held her other hand in a fist.
"Honey, you've gotta let your emotions out, too." Trudy looked up. "For a girl like you-"
"Mama." Penny hardened her voice. "I'm not gonna miss him a bit. You've known him longer than I have. Besides, I don't think the twins would wanna see their mama still upset." Part of that was a lie. Penny had always loved her daddy, but seeing the red mark made it a lot easier to forget he ever existed.
"If you need help, I'm here, too." Suga Mama nodded, then went to take Penny's place on the couch.
"I'm sorry." Trudy looked over shamefully.
"I don't blame you a bit, dearie." Suga Mama spoke genuinely. "I've been hoping you'd leave him for a while. He's not good for you."
Trudy sniffled, a soft smile across her face.
"I'm so sorry I ever let that boy near you." The older woman sighed, before holding out her arms.
Trudy smiled and accepted the offer for a hug, letting more tears fall as she was squeezed. "I don't know if I should've- I'm just- overreacting-"
"Hell no, girl!" Suga Mama pulled away to look Trudy in the eyes. "I don't care what that boy said, I've seen with my own two eyes how he treats you, and right now I see what he did to you." She raised her hand, running the back of her fingers over Trudy's cheek. "You might say "oh it was just one time", "oh he was just mad", "oh he didn't mean it". Trudy, I don't care. My boy put his hands on you, and I will not have it."
"But it was! I know he was just scared and-" Trudy let out another sob, regret coursing through her.
"I promise you, dearie, it only gets easier. I don't want you letting him back in this house. If he comes back, I'll deal with him myself." Suga Mama tried her best to offer support, not knowing exactly what would help.
Trudy rested her head back on the woman's shoulder. Memories of every good time they had flashed in her head. Every kiss, every smile, the nights he spent with her in the hospital...
"I've heard the first week is the hardest. You wonder if it was right, if you should take him back, you think you'll get the "good days" back." Suga Mama sighed. "You won't, dearie. He's hit you once, if you let him back in who knows what he'd do if I'm not here."
Trudy felt a wave of satisfaction, a steel that reminded her she did the right thing. "I'm not letting him back in here. He's not seeing my babies again." She spoke firmly, though her emotions still caused her voice to waver.
"That's my girl." Suga Mama smiled, looking over when Penny came back down the stairs.
"They just wanted their music changed, they're back asleep." Penny assured them. "I'm proud of you, mama."
Trudy sat up and smiled weakly, holding her arms out for a hug.
Penny did the same, her smile wide.
"How come you're not crying or nothing?" Suga Mama almost laughed.
"I know mama did a good thing. I don't care if he's- he was my daddy, or a total stranger, I don't want anybody hurting my mama."
"He hasn't done it before, honey. It was just on-"
"AH! There it is! Once is too many, Trudy!" Suga Mama interrupted.
Penny nodded. "In all my years alive, I've never seen him put his hands on you. Part of me says he was just looking for an excuse to, and found it."
Trudy held her cheek, pulling away and leaning back into the couch again. "Can- can one of you stay to keep knocking the sense back into me?" She laughed weakly.
"I ain't leaving your side." Suga Mama vowed, crossing her arms.
"If you'll write me a note, I'll stay home from school to take care of BeBe and CeCe." Penny offered.
"Dear, it's alri-"
"I'll write it right now! You take it to school whenever you go back." Suga Mama stood.
"I don't need you missing school, honey." Trudy sighed, looking up.
"Are you gonna be goin' to work tomorrow?" Suga Mama piped up from the kitchen before Penny had a chance to respond.
Trudy stayed quiet, then looked back to Penny. "Stay home as long as you need. Don't work yourself to death, though."
"I'll do as much as I can. I'm not nearly as upset about it." Penny squeezed between the arm of the chair and her mother's arm, enjoying her embrace.
Suga Mama sat back down, Puff finally joining them on the couch. "Penny Pr-" She paused. "You keepin' the name?"
Trudy sighed and closed her eyes. "Not sure."
Penny looked up, then back to Suga Mama. "Just say Penny. I don't care either way."
"Penny was absent the 27th- I'm gonna leave space for more days- for reasons that are none of your business. Signed, Suga Mama Proud."
"They won't accept that." Trudy chuckled, her hand on her forehead.
"You have a headache?" Penny looked up. "I can get some medicine, an ice pack-"
"I'm fine, honey." Trudy lied, her head pounding as she tried to recover from the intensity of the situation.
"Get her some Tylenol and a blanket. Girl's had too much for a day." Suga Mama folded the note and set it in the pocket of Penny's backpack so they wouldn't forget. "And they're gonna accept that or they're gonna get it."
Trudy just shook her head.
A warmer silence fell over the house, being gently broken a few minutes later.
"Fuzziest blanket I have, cold water, and some medicine." Penny smiled. "You wanna sleep with Puff, too?" She giggled.
Trudy looked down, seeing the usually distant dog curled by her side. "If he wants to."
Suga Mama smiled. "He can tell when you're upset. He does the same to me."
Trudy took the blanket and opened the pill bottle, taking a couple and then enjoying the feeling of the water through her entire body. "I don't want you overworking yourself, Penny." She reminded the girl.
Penny hugged her mom again, sighing. "I'll work however much I want to. You made a tough decision for yourself. Daddy wasn't mean to me, or the twins, but he was mean to you. If he was back here, I wouldn't feel safe after knowing he hit you."
Trudy bit her tongue, pangs of regret hitting her again.
"Mama, you did a good thing. I can't even imagine how it feels, but it's my job to make it feel.. less bad. You did it for me every time I was upset or had some school drama." Penny reminded her. "It makes me feel better seeing you feel better. I'd work my butt off all day and night to help you."
Trudy teared up again, hugging her daughter tightly. "I'm proud of you. I love you."
Penny smiled, opening her eyes and inviting Suga Mama into the hug. "I love you, too."
"I still love you, too." Suga Mama pat both their backs when everyone pulled away. "We'll handle the twins if they get up again. You lay down and take a nap."
Trudy smiled, watching the two make their way upstairs. She looked back down at Puff. A dog usually wrapped around Suga Mama's ankles, now shaking but still staying with her. "Thank you, Puff." Trudy smiled, getting a couple licks on the face. "I love you, too."