I looked at my son, Samuel, and his wife, Everly, standing before me, eyes wide and mouths slightly agape. My heart was heavy, but I knew what I had to do. “You must leave,” I said with a firm resolve that surprised even me. The three words hung in the air like a thunderstorm ready to break, and I watched as the realization slowly dawned on them.
Everly’s face turned from shock to indignation. “You can’t be serious!” she exclaimed, her voice climbing an octave. “We have a newborn! You can’t just throw us out!”
I felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly replaced by the image of Martha’s face, crumpled and tear-streaked. “I am serious,” I replied. “This is our home, and you’ve disrespected it for too long. You’ve disrespected my wife, and I won’t tolerate it any longer.”
