She Skipped Our Wedding Toast, So I Filed for Divorce

My cousin was getting married over the holiday, but my wife wouldn't come to the reception with me.

I'd seen it coming. Every holiday, every family occasion, she always found some excuse not to make the trip home with me.

I'd braced for it. Still, standing there at the reception while relatives asked after her, something curdled in my chest.

I'd known for a long time that plenty of them talked behind my back, said I wasn't much of a man, couldn't even bring my own wife home.

Some had started whispering that I was already divorced.

I drank in silence, and somewhere in that quiet I made up my mind.

No need for whispers anymore.

I took out my phone and called my wife.

She hung up. Hung up again. Hung up a third time.

【Will you quit it? I'm busy.】

I typed back three calm words. 【Let's divorce.】

【...】

【Are you out of your mind? You want a divorce because I won't go watch your cousin get married?】

【My sister came to visit over the holiday. I can't even spend time with her?】

I used to try to reason with her, to tell her how I felt.

She said she hated all the obligations that came with family. But with her side of the family, she was always warm. Every event, big or small, I was expected to show up.

When it came to my side, suddenly it was all such a hassle.

I'd reasoned with her too many times. I didn't want to do it again.

【I'm serious. Think about what you want out of the divorce. I'll tell you mine.】

【We split everything down the middle. If you agree, we do it amicably.】

I sent both messages.

【Out of your mind】came back, two words again. I put my phone away. I had no intention of replying.

For the next few days she stayed quiet, and I didn't reach out.

On the last day of the holiday, she came home.

She'd brought some vegetables and eggs from her parents' place.

She saw my face, stone-set, and said nothing.

She set the bags down, went into the bedroom, and slammed the door hard behind her.

A moment later she stormed back out, a copy of the divorce agreement in her hand.

"What is this supposed to mean?" She threw it at me.

"Divorce."

"Give me a reason."

"I'm tired. I don't want to be married to you anymore." I looked at her, calm.

"You'd throw me away over your cousin?" The tears started.

There was a time her crying would have rattled me.

Now I looked past the tears. "We're both adults. Can't we at least be civil about it?"

"Civil? You call a divorce civil?"

Marcella Chavez tore the agreement to shreds. "There's no way I'm getting divorced. I'm not living that down."

I got up, walked into the study, and pulled out the suitcase I'd already packed. "I'll give you three days to think it over. If you won't agree to settle, my only option is to file."

"Don't you walk away from me. Duncan Fleming, what gives you the right to divorce me? What did I ever do to you?"

"Is there someone else? Is that it?"

I glanced at her and didn't bother arguing. All I wanted was to be out of this marriage as fast as possible. She could keep everything—I'd walk away with nothing if it ended this faster.

I hadn't been gone two hours when my father-in-law called, telling me to come back and talk.

If we could split peacefully, I didn't want it to get ugly. I drove straight back.

My father-in-law, my mother-in-law, and Marcella's sister were all there.

The whole family sat bolt upright, like a tribunal about to convene.

My mother-in-law spoke first.

"Duncan, Marcie's told us everything. Don't you think you're pushing too hard? You want to blow up your marriage just because she wouldn't go to your cousin's wedding?"

"Is a marriage a game to you? Does our Marcie mean so little?"

I said nothing. There was nothing left to say to any of them.

I'd done all my arguing with Marcella years ago. They could talk all night and save their breath.