It was the best mistake she never made.

              Packing to move my half of the divided family into a small apartment  after signing my divorce papers, was the worst thing that I had to do. Box after box I put items that used to be “our's” to be moved into a house that I alone rented. One open box is open by my side. This box was the dreaded ex box. Everything that went to my newly ex-husband I placed here for him to pick up later.



         I see the ivory box that I had bought him as our third anniversary present. It was polished and shinning as I picked it up. The handle of the lid was the human form of a nude woman tastefully laying on her side. The more I looked the well preserved box,  the angrier I got. This box looked new and reminded me of the happy marriage that the world thought we had. With tears in my eyes, I tossed the expensive trinket into his box. I hoped that the thing would break into a million pieces as our family and my  heart had. It did not break, but the contents spilled across the items in the cardboard box. I glanced over on top of papers that he had kept was a letter addressed to him from my father. I wondered what my father had to say to my husband so I opened the envelope. The date on the page was the day of my wedding.





         “Robert, I will not call you son. I don't think that you will be around long. I don't see any future for you and my daughter. She deserves much better. I don't say this because you dropped out of high school. Nor dose the fact that you don't have a career cloud my judgment of you. The evidence that I am looking at is the following:



         My daughter needs not your money (if you had any). She needs a hand to hold when times are hard. I see you running to play basketball as she secretly cries trying to make the bills.  Longing to be held to remind her that everything will work out.

         

         I see you being short tempered. She will want children. She has always loved them. I do not see you as being a patient father. You will be one that shouts and possibly hits one when they don't meet your standards. My daughter will live with a man who wont show a compassionate heart as a father.



         Most of all, I watch you already looking for greener pastors. You will want to have you cake and eat it to. Now as I write this I could fill a page of the times that I have seen you look at other women. Yes, I have told Matilda of my fears, but she just thinks that I am being over protective.



         Even if you wont admit it, you are marrying her to have stability in your life. You need someone who will be there  for you as no one else has, home cooked meals, and a home to call your own. This will grow old soon, and you will have you hands in another cookie jar thinking that Matilda will never know. Believe me she will know before you ever make the first physical encounter.



         With this being said, I will stay out of the activity in you marriage unless you touch her. If you ever physically lay your hands on my daughter, you will wish that you had never met her!



         The Father-In-Law

         Johnnie”





         I hold the letter to my chest. I wish that my father was living so that I could tell him that he was right.



         Then I see the pictures that was taken at the hospital when my daughter was born. I smile as I read a note on one of the snap shots of me holding my new beautiful baby girl.



         “My new little grand daughter, Charity. Papaw's pride.”



         My father's words to the nurse still rings in my ears today, “It was the best mistake she never made.”