I should have known things would get worse when I saw Louis in action with my own eyes. It was a Tuesday afternoon at the grocery store near my house. I was picking up milk and bread when I spotted them in the checkout line. Louis was leaning over the counter, chatting up the young cashier who couldn’t have been older than 20. He was standing so close to her that I could see her uncomfortable smile from three aisles away.
The girl kept stepping back, but Louis kept moving closer, making jokes that had nothing to do with buying groceries. Meanwhile, my daughter stood right behind him, pretending not to notice, while her face burned with embarrassment.
I got home before they did and was waiting in the living room when they walked through the door. “Amber, we need to talk,” I said, my voice steady but firm. Louis immediately stepped in front of her. “Actually Robert, Amber and I were just discussing some private matters.”
“This concerns my daughter, so it concerns me,” I replied, looking directly at Amber. “I saw what happened at the store today. I saw how he was behaving with that cashier.” Amber’s eyes filled with tears, but instead of the realization I hoped for, I saw anger flash across her face.
“Dad, you’re spying on me now? You followed us to the grocery store?”
“I didn’t follow anyone. I was shopping, and I saw your boyfriend disrespecting you right in front of your face.”
Louis put his arm around Amber’s shoulders, pulling her closer to him. “See what I mean, babe? He’s trying to control you. This is exactly what we talked about.”
“No, Amber!” I stood up, my hands shaking with frustration. “Look at what’s happening right now! He’s turning you against your own father!” But she was already shaking her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t care what you think you saw! You’re just trying to ruin my happiness because you can’t let me go!” That night, she packed a bag and left.
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