What Lies Beneath the Tree

By Christopher Arnett Dikes

A marriage that comes to an end after twenty eight years together, three kids, and a lot going for them self's. With the help of alcohol taking control of there family they are torn apart even more. A story about the Roseenburgs a family's way of life that came to an end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477264317

Christopher Arnett Dikes

Christopher,Dikes wrote this book to become a published author. He spent close to a year writing this book. He is looking forward to his other book that he is working on to be available to his readers.Writing has become more then a hobby for him its what he wants to do as a career.

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WHAT LIES BENEATH THE TREE

Christopher Arnett Dikes, JR

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© 2012 Christopher Arnett Dikes, JR. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 8/29/12

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6381-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6431-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012915579

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

It was a long, cold night. David had been up most of the night, trying to think about how he could tell his wife, Jackie, that he wanted to end their marriage after three kids and twenty-eight years together. How would the kids feel? What would they think? How would Christmas and Thanksgiving work out? As for all the other holidays, well, everyone’s too busy going on with their lives.

Most of all, what would Jackie say, think, and feel? Well, 5:18 a.m., he thought. Better get some coffee made.

David made his way downstairs and sat at the kitchen table, watching the coffee drip into the coffeepot. About eight minutes later, he poured his coffee and added three teaspoons of sugar and one tablespoon of milk, the same way he had been drinking it for the last seventeen years.

It must have been about 5:38 a.m. when Jackie walked downstairs, stepped behind him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him on the head. Is everything okay? You’re up early, Jackie said.

Can I pour you a cup? David asked.

Okay.

As they sat down, David said, Jackie, baby, you know I love you, right?

Yes, but where is this going? It’s early; you don’t even get out of bed until seven.

Jackie, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and weighing my options and trying to look at everything from all angles. Over the last twenty-eight years, I have tried my best to be a good dad, a good husband, and the best provider for our family.

Yes, and you have done better than you realize.

Please let me talk. I’m trying to tell you I want to leave and start a new life.

Okay, Jackie said, where would we go?

David raised his cup, finished his coffee, and gently set it down on the table. No, Jackie, not us; just me.

David, I don’t know what’s going on with you right now, and you don’t know how much that hurts to hear you say that to me. What would you say to me if it was the other way around?

David didn’t have anything to say to her as he sat there, trying to be strong and not show any remorse. He felt that if he had shown Jackie that it bothered him, it would have been harder for him to end this conversation.

Never thought I would ever hear that from you, she said. As Jackie got up from the table and started making her way back to bed, she stopped, turned her head, and said, Whatever it is you’re going through, we will work it out. We have been through a lot together. For us to just turn our backs on each other and go our separate ways? I don’t think you realize what you’re saying to me. I’ll set a reservation at the steakhouse on Eighty-sixth and Grand.

Six p.m. came sooner than Jackie wanted. She was nervous about what would happen; she tried calling David at least four times that day, but he would not answer his phone. She had hoped that he was in meetings all day and that it was just another busy day.

David sat in his car outside the steakhouse looking at Jackie through the window waiting for him inside. Jackie sat there constantly looking at her watch and drinking her wine. She looked up and saw a man in his early thirties, a man she had never seen before. She grabbed her glass of wine and took another drink.

He approached her and said, Excuse me, Jackie Rosenburd?

Yes, she replied, may I help you?

Are you Jackie Rosenburd?

Yes, like I said, may I help you?

He set a large, yellow envelope on the table and said, You have been served, and turned around and walked away.

Jackie glanced out the window of the restaurant and saw David in his car, pulling away from the curb. She didn’t even have to look in the envelope to know he had filed for divorce, something no one had ever seen coming. When she got up and left the restaurant, she tried to avoid eye contact with other people. Unlike most people who get served and lose their temper, she kept calm.

It was a long drive home that night. The way she felt, her five-mile drive felt like twenty-five. At no time throughout her day did she think that the day was going to end up