Before Elizabeth's first birthday, they bought a house in North Dallas in a very good location and neighborhood. The house was on Inwood road, a little south of Walnut Hill Street. Steve used the excuse of the baby, and went alone
house shopping. He never took Helen with him to look at the houses with the real state agent. He never even told her that he was looking for a house. He picked up the house himself without Helen even seeing it. The lady, who was his agent, questioned him:
"Don't you want your wife to see the house before you put a deposit on?"
He laughed before getting into the car and answered her:
"She'll see it soon. We have a small child. It is hard with the baby to drive around the town to find the right house!!"
So Helen never saw the house until the day that they closed it after three weeks that he had already put the deposit on. Because of the community property law in Texas, he had almost no choice but to buy the house in both of their names. After they were done with the signing all the paper works, Helen still was not sure that how much he had put down, or how much their monthly payment would be, or what the house cost! He had arranged everything before he took her to the title company for signing. All Helen had to do, just sign and put her initials in places that they showed her.
After they finished in the title company and got the key of the house, Steve took her to the house they just had bought. They walked around in every room, and every closet. Steve almost played the role of a real state agent and told Helen about different area, the age of the house; he showed her a hidden area under the floor of master bedroom closet for hiding valuables!
She had a hard time to keep her tears from falling down her face. She was so offended of the way they had become homeowners that she was completely speechless to admire the beautiful house Steve had bought. She could not say to her husband:
"I really can't bear you; I despise you for the things you do, for the things you're proud of, that conceited part of you, your egotism, your highly strong- idiosyncrasy, and your disdain and disregard for everything and for me! You have no concern for anyone but yourself! You're coarse and I am earthly!"
But of course she never said these words. To answer Steve's question, "What do you think?", she quietly answered: "It's fine!"
He said: "Just fine! I kill myself working and making money and you say it is fine! When do you learn to be a little thankful for what you have?"
Helen almost found the situation ripe for a fight:
"It's a beautiful home! But I didn't know anything about it till today! What kind of married life do we have? Do you call this partnership?"
Steve, who was holding Elizabeth in his arm, put her down on the floor. Helen thought that he was going to hit her, but he did not. Anger blazed in his eyes. Helen picked up Elizabeth, who by now was screaming and crying. Nevertheless, she continued her cry. She wanted to either die herself or see him dead!
"What do you want from me? The house is yours, too; even though you don't deserve it. I am not home half of the time. This is for you and Elizabeth. What do you want from me you b...?"
Helen moved a few step back. Her throat was dry and she thought she would chock to death. She had a hard time to breathe. The child in her arm would not stop her screaming!!
To Be Continued
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