Same Bullshit, Different Year (Photostory)

It's been awhile since we've seen Lisa and Charles together.  Well, I now know why.  Apparently, they are having serious marital issues.  Lisa has been trying to keep it hush, hush, hoping they would work it all out before their friends found out.  But it's only gotten worse.  Lisa recently asked Charles to pack a bag and leave the house.  Lisa felt this was best.  It was too stressful having him in the house and she could tell all the tension was affecting the kids. 

So what did Cassanova Charles do?  Old habits die hard, and Charles can't seem to stay away from the ladies.  If you recall, he was a big time player for a large part of their relationship, before they were married.  He didn't really settle down until after the children came along.  I guess he's gotten restless again.  He was staying out later than usual and lying about his whereabouts.  Lisa, being hip to his game and getting very suspicious, started looking for the tell tall signs that he was straying.  Didn't take her long to find evidence to support her fears.

Here they are leaving church.  This is one activity they still do as a family.  You know what they say, "The family that prays together, stays together"?  

It's going to take a lot of praying and possibly some therapy, to get Lisa back.....AGAIN.

Charles drops Lisa and the kids back at her place.  He hints around to maybe them having dinner together.  Lisa shoots him down.  She would rather hang out with one of her girlfriends.  She calls Leslie and they decide to take the kids to McD's.  

Lisa gets herself and the kids out of their Sunday clothes, rests for about an hour, then heads out to meet Leslie.  She arrives first and settles into one of the back booths..

Not too much longer and Leslie saunters in with Ciana and Joseph.  She spots Lisa sitting in the back.

"You okay?  Looks like you've been crying".  Leslie inquires before taking a seat across from Lisa.  

"I've had better days, and I just need to vent!"  Lisa can feel the anger towards Charles welling up, and now she's questioning whether meeting at a McDonald's with the kids, was the best decision.  She really didn't have plans to discuss her problems, but the minute she opens her mouth, she knows there's no turning back now.                                                                    

Leslie is confused.  Did she miss the memo that Lisa was having problems?  "Take a deep breath.  Let me go get all the kids something to eat, to keep them entertained, then we'll talk.  Are you going to be okay for a few minutes?"  Lisa nods while wiping her eyes with a nearby napkin.

Leslie returns pretty quickly with food for everyone.  Lisa has calmed down a bit.  "So now tell me what has you so upset?"  Lisa takes a deep breath, exhales a couple of times, then very slowly starts talking about the nightmare she's been living the last three months.  Leslie sits there the whole time with her mouth open.  She's never personally dealt with a cheating husband, but she's heard her fair share of stories.  She's never sure really what to say.  "Why didn't you tell us?  You shouldn't have to go through this alone.  Do you know what you're going to do?"  All of a sudden Leslie has a million questions.  Are you going to legally separate?  Is divorce likely?  Are you guys going to counseling?  And the list goes on and on.  By the end of the conversation Lisa's head is spinning and she remembers why she had kept all this to herself.  She wasn't ready to answer the hard questions.  It was so much easier to stay in pretend mode, and pretend that none of this craziness had ever happened.  Before they leave the restaurant, Lisa asks that Leslie not share any of this with the other girls.  She needs a little more time to figure out what she's going to do.

P.S.  All of these are recycled pictures.