CHAPTER 30
KENDRICK
The phone rings. Again. A third time. I glance at the clock. It’s past nine. Doesn’t that mean lawyers should be in their offices by now?
“Gragson, Marshall, and Moore. Good morning, this is Heidi. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Heidi. This is Kendrick Keller. I have a phone meeting with Mr. Moore.”
“Good to hear from you, Dr. Keller. Hold just a minute and I’ll get Mr. Moore on the line.”
“Thank you.”
I sit back in my chair and spin it to look out the window.
I’m facing one of the most beautiful places on campus.
A community garden filled with vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
Beyond is the Community building with all the pride flags flying out front.
There’s a light breeze today, so they’re dancing in the wind.
“Dr. Kendrick Keller.”
I smile. “Hello, Manny.” Manuel Moore and I went to high school together and stayed in touch over the years. When I filed for divorce, there was no one I’d choose over him to represent me. “How’s everything?”
“Ending marriages and getting paid to do so. Living the dream, my friend.”
I laugh. “That feels like a perfect segue. I want this divorce finalized, Manny. I don’t care what she wants; give it to her—unless it’s money in any fashion. I’ve agreed on what I’m going to do regarding money. I’m tired of dragging this out while she continues to throw a tantrum.”
“It’s about time you set your foot down. You’ve been more than generous, more than patient.”
“I have,” I agree. “I’m tired, and I just want it over with.”
“I’ll have it settled, even if that means we take it to court. From what I remember about Natalia, this is something she’ll avoid, right?”
“Given that she’s going to lose a whole lot more if we go to court, yes, I think so. Hopefully, she’s working with someone smart who will steer her in the right direction.”
“I think we proceed with a counteroffer, then. Sign now, and the divorce stands as it is. If we have to go to court, this is what we’re willing to give. I’ve already written the counter up. You’ll find it in your email.”
“You anticipated this, did you?” I ask, amused.
“About five months ago, yes. She’s not actually asking for things she wants. She’s trying to get a reaction out of you.”
I close my eyes and frown. “I know she doesn’t want to stay married because she loves me. This isn’t a marriage. It hasn’t been a marriage for a long time. She’s just being obstinate.”
“You know her better than I do.”
I’m not sure I do, though. I’m not sure I’ve known Natalia for years.
“Give me a rundown of what’s in the counter.”
“Sell the house, and you each get half the proceeds. All assets that have a proven financial burden on your income will be sold, and you will receive seventy percent. Maintenance money gets cut by thirty percent, and the term is reduced to eighteen months. The one retirement account you left for her will be rescinded.”
“Are these things we can actually manage?” I ask.
“Here’s the thing: even if you lose this counter in court for what’s been agreed upon in the current divorce papers, you’re no worse off, and you still get the divorce finalized.
However, we also have eight months of Natalia calling you, screaming, demanding the same thing over and over, as well as accusing you of whatever she can possibly think of. ”
I consider the fact that she’s also influenced my children to discourage our relationship over the years. But that would require my children to testify or at least make a statement, and I won’t be the one to drag them into this.
“Her behavior alone is a bad reflection on her and will work in your favor. We can also throw around defamation since she’s been tossing around lies that don’t paint you in a flattering light for who knows how long, but at least for the past eight months. That should encourage her to sign as well.”
This feels so damn heavy. When I told Natalia I wanted a divorce last year, a weight had been lifted. I literally felt forty pounds lighter. Now that she’s dragging this on and on for fuck knows what reason, I’m carrying around this burden again, but it feels heavier now.
“We’ll get it taken care of,” Manny says.
“Thank you. I support this however it goes through, preferably out of court, but I don’t truly care at this point.”
“Interestingly, whether she decides to go to court will tell us a lot about why she’s digging her heels in.
Signing now when you’re practically handing her everything says that she’s just being a pain in the ass as she milks you for everything she can.
Going to court suggests there’s another reason behind it, even if we don’t know what that is. ”
“She’s already shown her true colors over the last year. I’m not sure she could look uglier to me at this point.”
“Understood. Let me get on this. I’ll be in touch, Kendrick.”
“Thank you, Manny. Talk soon.”
“Soon,” he agrees and hangs up.
For a minute, I stare out the window at the flags in the breeze.
I remember when we raised the first dozen flags beside the single Pride flag.
It had been an announcement that we’d put out via the campus newsletter.
Back in the days before apps. I’d expected maybe a handful of people to watch, but damn near the entire school showed up to raise the flags.
It wasn’t meant to be a ceremony as we removed the US flag and the state flag for relocation, so this one spot was dedicated to our own community.
Every time I question whether what I’m doing here is making an impact, I turn around to look at those flags and remember everyone who showed up at that event.
Afterward, a young woman came up to me with tears in her eyes as she looked at the flags overhead and said, “I know this seems like such a small thing but seeing them replace the flag of oppression toward us feels like it’s giving us permission to be proud.
We’re going to exist and thrive despite the lawmakers of this country trying to keep us silent and invisible. ”
A version of her words is now on a plaque in front of the flags.
My cell phone rings, and I grin when I see Brevan’s name. “Hey, Brev.”
“Kendrick,” he says, sounding breathless.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just… my agent called. The NFL has invited me to attend the draft in person next month. In person!”
I grin. “That’s amazing.”
“I think it means someone wants me on their team. Why else would they invite me, right?”
“Sounds like it.”
“It’s all paid for, too. Travel, meals, lodging—all of it. I’m shaking, Kendrick. I’m sorry I called. I know I probably shouldn’t.”
“You can call me anytime. I’m excited to share your joys, sweetheart. I can’t wait to celebrate tonight.”
“I’m so excited. I can’t catch my breath.”
I chuckle, but pride fills my chest. “I’m so proud of you, Brevan. That’s a big deal.”
His breathing is heavy as he tries to catch his breath. I can’t wait to take him in my arms tonight.
My cell phone makes a weird sound, and it has me pulling it away from my head. A bar across the top of my screen reads, ‘Incoming video call Seth Keller-Navarro, Briar Keller-Navarro, Tabitha Keller-Navarro.’ My stomach drops.
“Sweetheart, I have to go. I’ll call you in a bit, okay?”
“Okay.”
I hang up and accept the video. We don’t have a group chat anywhere that I remember, so I can’t imagine that it’s an accidental call. I’m the last to pick up, and all three of my kids’ faces look at me. I wish I were on a larger screen so I could see them more clearly.
“I told you he’d answer,” Seth says.
“It’s the middle of the day,” Tabitha argues. “He’s at work. It’s reasonable to think that he can’t.”
“I’m here,” I assure them. “What’s wrong? Seth, your apartment?”
Seth smiles a little. “I didn’t have much on the floor except a blanket that fell from my bed and some shoes. My bedroom door was closed, so while there was water in my room, it wasn’t as much as what had been in the rest of the apartment. We’ve been moved out while the pipes are fixed.”
“Tell Dad who’s paying for damages,” Briar says, frowning.
Seth sighs. “I don’t know who’s paying.”
I can tell Briar turns his attention to me. “His landlord tried to blame the pipe burst on them. Renters’ insurance isn’t covering the cost of the pipe burst—”
“As they shouldn’t,” Tabby breaks in.
Briar nods his agreement. “So far, his landlord is insisting that they pay for everything, including the damage to the apartment below them from the water sitting.”
“Absolutely not,” I say. “I know a lawyer.”
Seth gives us all a bemused expression. “We have a lawyer. They just submitted paperwork to the landlord covering leasing laws and whatever.”
“Good. Is this move you made temporary, or are you planning to go back?” I ask.
“I think if we wanted to go back, we’re burning that bridge with the landlord by suing them for damages. This new place is fine.”
On principle, I’d like them to be able to go back. Seth liked his apartment, from what I understood. But he’s right that it’s probably not a good idea.
“This isn’t why we called,” Seth reminds his siblings.
“Right. What’s wrong?” I repeat.
All three kids smile in amusement. There’s something very similar in their smiles, and it makes my chest tight.
“Well,” Seth says. “Mom’s kind of being a jerk, and I think that maybe Briar and Tabby need to hear what’s really going on.”
“From you,” Tabby says. “We’ve heard what Mom said all our lives, but she’s been making some really wild claims since you asked for a divorce and…”
“I think we’ve been na?ve to believe all the words that come out of her mouth,” Briar says. “On some level, I knew they weren’t all true, but there were times when I thought you choosing to live in Glensdale proved they were.”
“I’m glad you’d like this conversation. Is there something specific you want to address first?” I ask.
“Yes,” Seth says before the other two can answer. “Tell them about your secret family.”
I frown. “I don’t have a secret family. I don’t and have never had a secret relationship.
I’ve never had an affair. There are no long-lost siblings that will pop up if you go on one of those DNA sites.
” I pause and think about my years before Natalia.
“Let me amend that. There won’t be any younger siblings. Older…? eh.”
Seth snorts.
“Oh my god,” Tabby says, covering her face.
My boys laugh.
“I love you kids. I know I haven’t made it obvious in my actions since I stopped coming home when you were young, but you have always been the absolute most important people in my entire life.
I would never disrespect you or your mother by building a family out here.
I already had a family that I was—am—incredibly proud of. ”
“See?” Seth says. I can imagine that smug smile is for me.
“However, I do need to tell you something.”
“See!” Tabby says.
“No, everything I said is true. What I need to make sure you understand is that I asked for a divorce a year ago. I filed for divorce eight months ago. Reasons beyond my control have made this process ridiculously slow.”
“Reasons being Mom,” Briar says.
I don’t disagree or agree. “Perhaps the law doesn’t agree with me, but as far as I’m concerned, my divorce was final the moment I filed for it.”
“You’re seeing someone,” Seth says, frowning. “I was there for a week. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s newer than that,” I say. “I would have told you when I got home.”
“Oh.”
“Seth was there like a week ago,” Tabby says.
“He was. It’s very new.”
“Are you going to marry her?” she asks.
I know she’s teasing me, but my next words may tell me more about how I feel than even I realized. “If he’ll have me, yes. I’m going to marry him.”
It takes me a minute to realize that it might not be the marriage intention that has them staring at me with wide eyes. It’s the fact that I might have just come out to my kids. Huh. I suppose that’s long overdue.