Question Answered and Lesson Learned

A few blogs ago I posted concern for a friend who was in an abusive relationship. I wondered how all the neighbors could sit around a pretend they didn't see what was happening. Well I got my answer this weekend.

Brett's brother and sister-in-law came to visit last weekend. Being that Eric is a chef and loves to cook we had invited our friends, C & K, over for dinner. K and I had planned on going to an open house at the local craft store that afternoon. Lindsey came with us. We ran over to the mall afterwards. On the way to drop K back at her car before Lindsey and I stopped at Hooters to pick up wings for the boys, Brett called. Told me he had just spoken to C and that he blew a fuse when Brett told him we were stopping at Hooters. Just as I was explaining to Brett that K was not coming to Hooters with us, C called her. And all hell broke loose.

From that point forward, the name calling started and accusations started. C has a slight drinking problem. He had already been drinking and continued to drink the rest of the night. He kept calling her and leaving nasty messages. At one point he stopped by to get her garage door opener. When I brought him the keys to her car, he made a point to tell me not to have her come home. So, of course, she didn't and stayed at our place.

On Sunday, Brett ran the Army Ten-Miler (in 1 hour and 17 minutes). K drove Eric and Lindsey to the race to meet up with us and then we all went to breakfast. During breakfast, Brett received a call from one of our other neighbors to see if he could go check on C. Apparently he had a mishap on Saturday night and his face was all messed up. Brett called C but got his voicemail so he left a message. Still haven't heard back from him. K was so upset when she heard about this that she had to leave the table.

The drama continued until last night. They finally talked and are resolving the problem. Hopefully she won't move back in but I know that she won't stay with us anymore. Last night when she went over to talk to C, I made mention that if she ended up going back to him that she wouldn't be able to stay her again. Brett (and I) don't want our place to be a hotel. She seemed to be okay with that...Until this afternoon.

She didn't come back last night. I figured they had made up and she stayed there. I got an email from her this afternoon stating they had talked (most of it playing the blame game). She wanted to know when Brett would be home because after what I told her yesterday she feels uncomfortable staying here. She wanted to come get her stuff when he wasn't home. Of course I told her that she was more than welcome to stay and we just wanted her to make a healthy decision that would make her happy. I haven't heard from her since.

Now I am the outcast. C is trying to put some of the blame on me. All I did was be a friend and do what I thought was best. Brett is tired of the drama and is already counting the days until he leaves for Korea (or wherever he ends up). I am to the point that I am just going to hole myself up in the condo when Brett is gone.

Now I know why no one ever steps in and tries to help. Lesson learned!!