Read Online A Perfect Husband by Aphrodite Jones - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Aphrodite Jones
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threatening to move out of their house, Patricia decided she wasnât about to make things easy for Kathleen. She was painfully aware of how well Kathleen was getting along with Michael, Margaret, and Martha, and Patricia was becoming outwardly nervous about losing her family.
Back in those days, Patricia was still trying to save her marriage to Michael. Determined to maintain her status as his wife, Patricia requested that Michael move back with her to Germany. She had accepted a teaching position there, and would be taking their sons with her, whether he liked it or not. Patricia would suggest that Michael keep the house in Durham, that he rent it out as an investment property, but she insisted that North Carolina would no longer be her home. Michael would have to choose. If he wanted to live with his sons, he would have to leave the United States.
Patricia figured that since she and Michael had been happy back in Germany, they could rekindle their love there. They had many friends in that part of the world, Patricia having worked many years as a teacher for the Department of Defense. She knew Michael loved it there; he had written his first novel in Germany and adored European ways. Germany was a place of so many fond memories for Michael, a man who loved being an expatriate. And Patricia knew that.
The two of them had initially agreed to return to the states as a temporary fix. They felt the old Southern ways, the Southern hospitality, would make life more cushy for their larger family. But once she became a full-time teacher and a full-time mom in Durham, Patricia grew increasingly unsettled with the American ways of life. As Michael became more enamored with the ease of an American existence, Patricia felt that her sons would be best served growing up in Europe. As for the Ratliff girls, Patricia felt Michael should determine what the best upbringing for them would be. Their âadoptedâ girls were in grade school; Margaret and Martha would be able to withstand another move. If Michael wanted his sons in his life, he would have to take the girls away from America. Patricia felt the girls would flourish in Germany, where their biological mom, Liz, had wanted them to grow up. She believed that Michael would somehow agree.
But no one could have foreseen the love that Michael would find with Kathleen. The love affair between Michael and Kathleen had started off slowly, with their girls being best friends. But as the two of them continued to see each other, they realized how much they really had in common. When their secret love affair was no longer hidden, Patricia was devastated. At first, she was hopeful that she could outlast Kathleen. Patricia was willing to do anything to keep Michael in her life, to make concessions about staying in America, to do whatever her husband might ask. But when Michael announced that he was going to move into Kathleenâs house, just a few blocks away, telling Patricia that he had decided to live with Kathleen out of wedlock . . . Patricia could hardly stand it.
At first, Michael had this idea that Caitlin, Margaret, and Martha could live like sisters. They all seemed so happy together, and Kathleen was all for it. But that was too much of a leap for Patricia to make. In those early years, even though Patricia hardly showed it, she disliked Kathleen and her preppy daughter, Caitlin. Patricia refused to allow her sons to even visit Kathleenâs home. As the tug-of-war for Michael continued, Patricia picked up and moved back to Germany, taking hers sons with her.
By shifting households, Patricia Peterson felt certain that she would force Michael back into her life. But to her surprise, Michael, who had gone back to give Germany a try for a few months, who had taken Margaret and Martha overseas to try to keep his family whole, had decided that there was no way he could make it work with Patricia. Instead, Michael had grown spiteful toward Patricia and her attempt to keep
Back in those days, Patricia was still trying to save her marriage to Michael. Determined to maintain her status as his wife, Patricia requested that Michael move back with her to Germany. She had accepted a teaching position there, and would be taking their sons with her, whether he liked it or not. Patricia would suggest that Michael keep the house in Durham, that he rent it out as an investment property, but she insisted that North Carolina would no longer be her home. Michael would have to choose. If he wanted to live with his sons, he would have to leave the United States.
Patricia figured that since she and Michael had been happy back in Germany, they could rekindle their love there. They had many friends in that part of the world, Patricia having worked many years as a teacher for the Department of Defense. She knew Michael loved it there; he had written his first novel in Germany and adored European ways. Germany was a place of so many fond memories for Michael, a man who loved being an expatriate. And Patricia knew that.
The two of them had initially agreed to return to the states as a temporary fix. They felt the old Southern ways, the Southern hospitality, would make life more cushy for their larger family. But once she became a full-time teacher and a full-time mom in Durham, Patricia grew increasingly unsettled with the American ways of life. As Michael became more enamored with the ease of an American existence, Patricia felt that her sons would be best served growing up in Europe. As for the Ratliff girls, Patricia felt Michael should determine what the best upbringing for them would be. Their âadoptedâ girls were in grade school; Margaret and Martha would be able to withstand another move. If Michael wanted his sons in his life, he would have to take the girls away from America. Patricia felt the girls would flourish in Germany, where their biological mom, Liz, had wanted them to grow up. She believed that Michael would somehow agree.
But no one could have foreseen the love that Michael would find with Kathleen. The love affair between Michael and Kathleen had started off slowly, with their girls being best friends. But as the two of them continued to see each other, they realized how much they really had in common. When their secret love affair was no longer hidden, Patricia was devastated. At first, she was hopeful that she could outlast Kathleen. Patricia was willing to do anything to keep Michael in her life, to make concessions about staying in America, to do whatever her husband might ask. But when Michael announced that he was going to move into Kathleenâs house, just a few blocks away, telling Patricia that he had decided to live with Kathleen out of wedlock . . . Patricia could hardly stand it.
At first, Michael had this idea that Caitlin, Margaret, and Martha could live like sisters. They all seemed so happy together, and Kathleen was all for it. But that was too much of a leap for Patricia to make. In those early years, even though Patricia hardly showed it, she disliked Kathleen and her preppy daughter, Caitlin. Patricia refused to allow her sons to even visit Kathleenâs home. As the tug-of-war for Michael continued, Patricia picked up and moved back to Germany, taking hers sons with her.
By shifting households, Patricia Peterson felt certain that she would force Michael back into her life. But to her surprise, Michael, who had gone back to give Germany a try for a few months, who had taken Margaret and Martha overseas to try to keep his family whole, had decided that there was no way he could make it work with Patricia. Instead, Michael had grown spiteful toward Patricia and her attempt to keep
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