Story for the Week
When Dennis and I got married, “for better or worse,” “for richer or poorer,” “in sickness and in health” were all part of our vows. “To honor and obey”? That was changed to “to love, honor, and cherish.” 😏
I have had people tell me that I’m still young and could meet someone that I want a relationship with. I have friends who have remarried after being widowed or divorced. It happens. I know that. But I don’t expect it to happen to me.
For starters, I would have to be willing to leave my house and put myself out there to meet anyone, let alone date them. And since I’m an introvert (Introverts Need Dialog Too (Book Dialog, That Is)), that’s unlikely. 🤣
The other piece of it is that I spent 36 years of my life single before marrying Dennis. I remember something I told my mom once before Dennis and I met. One evening, I was sitting in bed watching television, having a snack, cats curled up with me. I wondered if I really wanted a man to come in and mess up my routine.
I was content. I had a good job I enjoyed, friends in my apartment building that I hung out with, and no one to answer to if I wanted to eat peanut butter and crackers for dinner in front of the television. And then I met Dennis.
Dennis had his flaws. He wanted me to watch soccer and “boom movies” with him but wouldn’t watch football and Friends with me (with the exception of the Super Bowl). He preferred to watch me to do housework instead of helping with it. He would spend more time getting ready for a bike ride than actually being on one. He never once put his dirty clothes inside the hamper, preferring to toss them on top. 🤦🏻♀️
But for all his flaws, he had more great qualities. He wanted the best things for our family. He could always make me laugh, even if I was angry. He always told me I was beautiful. And he never failed to tell me he loved me.
On the flip side, I am not the neat freak I used to be and prefer to read and write this blog instead of folding the laundry or doing the dishes. I love to sleep in on the weekends. I could easily eat the same thing for dinner every night if it was something I liked and was easy to make.
We all have our idiosyncrasies…or as I like to call them, crap. Dennis had his crap, and I had my crap. When we got married, we had to learn to tolerate each other’s crap. Some days it was easy, and other days it was oh so hard lol. But the point, and what I have tried to instill in Corinne (and one of her friends), is that loving someone means you’re willing to put up with their crap because their good qualities outweigh their flaws.
It’s up to you to determine whose crap you’re willing to tolerate for the rest of your life. And as far as I’m concerned, I don’t have it in me to absorb anyone else’s crap. It takes enough energy to take care of my own. For better or worse. 😉
Book Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 Stars for For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt
350 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: December 11, 2018
I originally received an advance copy of this title from NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher’s Description
On their first date back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke bonded over drinks, dinner—and whether they could get away with murder. Now married, they’ll put the latter to the test when an unchecked danger in their community places their son in jeopardy. Working as a criminal defense attorney, Nat refuses to rely on the broken legal system to keep her family safe. She knows that if you want justice…you have to get it yourself.
Shocked to discover Nat’s taken matters into her own hands, Will has no choice but to dirty his, also. His family is in way too deep to back down now. He’s just not sure he recognizes the woman he married. Nat’s always been fiercely protective, but never this ruthless or calculating. With the police poking holes in their airtight plan, what will be the first to fall apart: their scandalous secret—or their marriage?
************
Main Characters:
- Natalie Clarke – a criminal defense attorney; she and Will met in law school
- Will Clarke – a trust and estate attorney
- Charlie Clarke – Natalie and Will’s 11-year-old son
This was the first time I had read anything by Margot Hunt, and she is definitely an author I would read again.
Natalie and Will met in law school. On their first date, Will joked that they were smarter than the average criminal and could probably plan the perfect murder. Little did they know that the joke would become reality years later. When they find themselves in a situation where Charlie is victimized, Natalie is faced with an overwhelming desire to protect him from being picked apart by the criminal justice system.
The story is told in three parts—first from Natalie’s point of view, second from Will’s point of view, and finally again from Natalie’s. There were several times throughout the book that I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I never guessed how this would end.
The story was well-written, and the author did a great job of showing us exactly what kind of people Natalie and Will are. It will definitely keep your attention because you will want to know what’s going to happen next. Will their marriage survive? Will the bad guys be brought to justice? What really IS justice in this case?
It’s also obvious why the book is called For Better AND Worse instead of For Better OR Worse. I definitely recommend picking this one up.
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