When the Facts Aren’t That Simple (When The #4)

Prologue

“I don’t understand ,” I said. “Why don’t they just get a divorce?”

“It’s not always that simple, Ares,” Grandfather replied.

“I just don’t get it,” I said again. “If they liked each other enough to get married, then why don’t they like each other now?”

I sat on the pier that led to my grandfather’s private lake, and this was my most favorite place in the world. It was so quiet that you could hear all the birds in the trees and the animals in the woods, and I’d rather be out here than at home with my fighting parents.

“Well, since you’re already twelve, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you the truth,” Grandfather said as he sat next to me on the pier, though I knew how he hated being out here. “Lots of people get married for other reasons besides love, Ares.”

I turned to look at him because that didn’t make any sense. “What?”

“Marriage is a lot like a business deal to some, child,” he went on. “Lots of people get married to strengthen their financial futures, so it doesn’t matter if they like each other or not.”

“That makes no sense,” I told him. “Why would you marry someone that you don’t like just for money?”

“Because, my dear boy, money is the ultimate goal,” he said. “Money is what makes the world go round, and those of us that have it realize its importance enough to make the hard sacrifices.”

“So...so, it’s okay for them to just fight every day?” I asked, still a bit confused about why money was more important than love.

“Here’s the thing, Ares,” he said as he patted my knee. “It doesn’t matter if you get married for love, money, or convenience; you’ve still given your word.”

“Your word?”

“The vows that you take when you get married are binding, child,” he explained.

“A man’s honor is only as good as his word, and so divorce is never an option.

Despite the dynamics of the marriage, loyalty is everything, Ares.

Your parents may not care for each other in a general sense, but if they get a divorce, then it’ll just prove that your father doesn’t have what it takes to be loyal through any storm, and I can’t have a man like that taking over TCC. ”

“Even if they fight every day?” I asked again.

“Think of it this way,” he said. “As long as they’re still fighting with one another, then it means that they care enough to put in the effort to make their marriage work.

It’s when they stop fighting that’s the problem.

If the day ever comes when your parents are no longer arguing with one another, then that means that their marriage is over, even if neither one of them files for divorce. ”

I knew that he was doing his best to explain why my parents fought so much, but none of it was making any sense to me. People should only get married if they loved each other, and real love lasted forever, so that’s why you didn’t get divorced, right?

Not understanding everything that Grandfather was trying to tell me, I said, “I just hate hearing them fight all the time. Dalton and Didi don’t like it either.”

“It’s not always the easiest thing to be the eldest child,” he said, confusing me more. “Still, I have every confidence that you’ll turn out just fine, Ares.”

I looked back at the lake. “How do you know that? What if I end up fighting with my wife all the time, too.”

“Somehow, I don’t see that being an issue with you,” he answered, not really telling me anything.

“One day, you’re going to be a man to be reckoned with, and your wife will know her place.

Just remember that only loyalty commands respect, so make sure that you’re loyal to your wife, and in turn, she’ll respect everything about you.

” He let out a deep breath. “I fear that’s where your father went wrong with your mother. ”

“I thought you said that they were still married because they are loyal to each other,” I said, lost in whatever lesson that Grandfather was trying to teach me.

“There’s different situations that fall under the category of loyalty, Ares,” he replied quietly, and I was just so tired of this conversation, especially since it wasn’t going to stop my parents from fighting.

“Maybe I just won’t ever get married,” I muttered.

“That’s also an option,” Grandfather said. “However, then it all goes to Dalton and Didi.”

“Good,” I grumbled. “They can have it.”