Jonathan Hirsch

It took the women a minute to realize she was being serious.

And I'm sure it felt unsettling to the other women in that room, these relatively well-to-do Christian women chatting in the kitchen of a Dallas suburb, 1972.

And I'm sure it felt unsettling to the other women in that room, these relatively well-to-do Christian women chatting in the kitchen of a Dallas suburb, 1972.

And I'm sure it felt unsettling to the other women in that room, these relatively well-to-do Christian women chatting in the kitchen of a Dallas suburb, 1972.

Not long after, Sandra asked Chuck for a divorce.

Not long after, Sandra asked Chuck for a divorce.

Not long after, Sandra asked Chuck for a divorce.

Who was this woman? She'd wrestled her way into the center of a marriage and managed to convince Sandra that, to evolve, her husband had to go. She had spiritual practices to pursue or whatever, and Chuck was getting in the way. At the same time, Chuck had started this new blended family. Gail was Devereaux's stepmom, and Devereaux now had a stepbrother and stepsisters close in age.

Who was this woman? She'd wrestled her way into the center of a marriage and managed to convince Sandra that, to evolve, her husband had to go. She had spiritual practices to pursue or whatever, and Chuck was getting in the way. At the same time, Chuck had started this new blended family. Gail was Devereaux's stepmom, and Devereaux now had a stepbrother and stepsisters close in age.

Who was this woman? She'd wrestled her way into the center of a marriage and managed to convince Sandra that, to evolve, her husband had to go. She had spiritual practices to pursue or whatever, and Chuck was getting in the way. At the same time, Chuck had started this new blended family. Gail was Devereaux's stepmom, and Devereaux now had a stepbrother and stepsisters close in age.

He was concerned about Terry's influence on his daughter. He fought to have full custody of Devereaux.

He was concerned about Terry's influence on his daughter. He fought to have full custody of Devereaux.

He was concerned about Terry's influence on his daughter. He fought to have full custody of Devereaux.

Chuck's lawyer was scared. Sandra had espoused some pretty out there ideas, which she seemed to be absorbing from her friend Terry.

Chuck's lawyer was scared. Sandra had espoused some pretty out there ideas, which she seemed to be absorbing from her friend Terry.

Chuck's lawyer was scared. Sandra had espoused some pretty out there ideas, which she seemed to be absorbing from her friend Terry.

Chuck's attorney feared that Sandra was being influenced, that she might do something she'd later deeply regret. If you move forward and get full custody, his lawyer said, which it looks like you can get, you will win the battle, but you're gonna lose the war.

Chuck's attorney feared that Sandra was being influenced, that she might do something she'd later deeply regret. If you move forward and get full custody, his lawyer said, which it looks like you can get, you will win the battle, but you're gonna lose the war.

Chuck's attorney feared that Sandra was being influenced, that she might do something she'd later deeply regret. If you move forward and get full custody, his lawyer said, which it looks like you can get, you will win the battle, but you're gonna lose the war.

Gail and Chuck, in the middle of all this, did their best to provide a loving home for Devereaux and to keep the kids insulated from any of the weirdness going on with Sandra and Terry. They were sort of dancing around Sandra, trying to stay connected to Dev without getting too involved with her. It felt precarious, unstable.