(4/13) “After college Tripp and I moved to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia. It’s where
(4/13) “After college Tripp and I moved to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia. It’s where The Masters golf tournament is played. There’s a lot of wealth in the city, but Tripp and I didn’t have any money. So we moved into an abandoned log cabin that belonged to his grandfather. Tripp got a job working for his parents, and I noticed he kept billing our renovations to the company. It didn’t seem right to me. But if I challenged him on it, it would lead to huge fights. He’d tell me to mind my own business. He’d call me ‘Little Ms. Christian.’ But an hour later it would be like nothing ever happened. The cabin had a huge fireplace. And Tripp was so romantic. He’d make us a steak dinner and we’d eat in front of the fire. There was something almost feminine about him. He dressed better than me. He was a better decorator, and a better dancer. It had always been his dream to have a big wedding. A courthouse would have been fine for me, but he chose the biggest Catholic church in town. I didn’t have many friends to invite. Hardly any family. My father wasn’t there to walk me down the aisle. I’d met him exactly once, when I was seventeen. He was my mom’s boss at the cotton mill. The first thing he said was: ‘You look more like me than my own daughter.’ Then I never saw him again. We seated Tripp’s guests on both sides of the aisle, so my side wouldn’t be empty. Tripp wanted the best of everything. He booked a fancy band from Atlanta. He rented a horse and carriage. He was adamant about having an open bar. He was bringing home $350 a week, so we couldn’t afford any of it. On the day before our wedding, we drove to pick up all the liquor. I think I mentioned that it was too much money. My cousin was in the car with us. And Tripp just cussed me out in front of her. He called me a bitch, and told me to shut the F up. I remember thinking: I shouldn’t marry this man. But everyone was going to be there the next day. It was too late to back out. Tripp was the main attraction at the wedding. He got up on stage and danced with the band. I laughed and cheered along with everyone else. If there’s anything my childhood prepared me for, it’s pretending that everything’s OK.” -- source link