Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Van
It shouldn’t be this easy to get divorced.
“I’ve seen a lot of divorces,” Mr. Sewell said, his hands folded on his desk.
His office wasn’t what I’d expect for a lawyer.
The old house he worked out of creaked more than his chair.
The inside could be as nice as the Perez house, and at one time it probably was, but the wood varnish had long worn off, and the walls were a shade of yellow that time could only paint.
“But this is one of the easiest, and you two don’t hate each other. ”
“Thanks?” Clover said nervously.
I let out a small chuckle and caught her eyes. Last night had been amazing. This morning, we couldn’t sleep, so I pulled her into the shower. One last time. Our last time.
“I’m glad you could stop in today.” He grinned, flashing pristine white teeth. His hair had been freshly trimmed, and he was wearing a polo and khakis. “I’ve gotta get to Bismarck to catch a flight.”
His December in Turks and Caicos would be more pleasurable than mine in my new rental.
Why did I turn down Christmas with the Dukes? It’d probably be warm and inviting and relaxing. Good food and better people.
I had to. The more I clung to Clover, the more she’d have to drag me around. She’d been held back long enough.
He rose and shook our hands before shuffling us out of the office. We stood on the front stoop as the door clicked shut behind us.
“Well,” she said, tucking her face into the collar of her coat, “that was fast.”
I should protect my face from the bite of the wind, but the pain was welcome right now. “And easy.”
Her faint giggle carried across the yard. “Aunt Linda texted and said you could just leave your set of keys in the house. She’ll get in through the garage.”
“I’ll put them by yours.”
Her set of keys was on the island. The movers were coming, and then I would do a quick cleaning.
Until then, I was helping Clover unload her things into her apartment.
Her siblings had pitched together a spare bed, a dresser, and a scattering of furniture.
Jasper has supplied the most, insisting he would have to store it if he moved in with me.
“Okay.” Her smile was tight. “Thank you for closing out the house.”
“Thank you for marrying me.”
Her soft laugh echoed the sad sting in my chest.
This was it. We’d just drive away from each other and resume living separate lives. That had been so much easier before I knew what being married to her would be like.
Yet I wasn’t ready to completely part ways. I hadn’t been married before, and the whole divorce-papers thing messed with my mind. “Ready for some breakfast?”
The bathroom quickie had pushed us closer to our appointment than I had meant it to, but she’d insisted that she wasn’t that hungry.
She pressed her hands to her stomach over her blue-and-white jacket. The material crinkled. “I could definitely eat something heartier than a banana.”
“I’ve got some time. Wanna go to the diner?”
Her smile came out like the sun peeking through the clouds overhead. “I haven’t eaten there since I’ve been back. Let’s go.”
I hated driving different cars, but it only took a few minutes until we were both parked outside the small diner downtown. Several spots were open. The morning rush was gone, but a few older people having their morning coffee could be seen through the windows.
Clover got out, and I scrambled to meet her by the front. I held the door open for her.
“It smells delicious,” Clover said as she passed.
“Morning,” the server called. She was about my mom’s age, wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt and a name tag that said Joni. “Have a seat anywhere.”
I led Clover to a booth by the window. We sat across from each other, and silence descended between us. Joni delivered two glasses of water, said she’d be right back, and scurried away.
I let my attention wander up and down the street of my new hometown. My rental house was several blocks away. Tonight would be the farthest I’d slept from her since she returned from her work trip.
Clover put her chin in her hand. “It’s not Omaha.”
“No.” Coal Haven’s main street didn’t stretch much more than five or six blocks. “To be fair, I wasn’t getting out much in Omaha.”
Joni appeared. “Hello.” She tapped her pen against her notepad. “I’m gonna be that guy and ask if you’re the new couple that moved into the old place where the Henkes leased the pastures.”
Clover’s eyes lit and then died. Did she recall the papers we’d signed this morning? “Yes. Actually, we aren’t together like that.”
Joni peeked at Clover’s ring finger. “Oh, dang. I’m sorry. I presumed too much, and that’s why I shouldn’t open my mouth.”
“No, it’s fine. We were mar— We’re just friends.”
We were married.
Joni smiled. “That’s sweet. One of you is a Duke, right?”
She chatted a little more, mining for information that would likely get passed along to regulars, like the ones sipping their coffee. Then she took our order and was gone again.
“We’re going to be the talk of the town,” she whispered.
“I think we already are.”
“Now they’ll just be confused.” She scrubbed her face with a hand and checked her phone. “Jasper said he’s on the way with a load of furniture. That’ll give me time to pick up kitchen utensils, and I’ll work all night to catch up.”
“Same.” I wouldn’t concentrate well today. “When’s your next appointment?”
“I have one next Monday.”
“I can go with you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to.”
I wanted to. “Clover,” I said gently. “I’m in town now.”
“I never know how long I’m going to be waiting, and you’re so close to getting everything shored up for all your pitch meetings.”
“I’m ready for those.” I had some polishing to do on my programs, but I wasn’t worried. I should have been, but I wasn’t. “What time?”
“I got one right at eight.”
“I’ll be there.” A knot loosened in my chest. I had another date set to see her.
“And Christmas?” she asked. “You still have other plans? You’re always welcome at Poppy’s.”
“I’ve got plans,” I lied. I’d spent the day alone before. This year would be no different. Only it felt like the loneliness would crush me. But that was for me to deal with, not her or her family.
She narrowed her eyes. “Do you have plans for Christmas Eve?”
I gave my head a little shake. My parents usually went out, and Elijah had never included me in his life, not that I would’ve joined him. I should tell her I was tied up. She hadn’t asked what, so I hadn’t had to lie even more. But I could only be so strong. “No. Nothing for Christmas Eve.”
“Then come over. We’ll have pizza. I don’t want to ruin a big dinner for you the next day.”
A dinner for one. “Are you inviting me to your place for Christmas Eve out of pity?” Did I care? I’d give her all the space she wanted, but I’d take whatever scraps she left me. It was to stay in Bean’s life.
And hers.
A divot formed between her brows. “Would you be joining me out of pity?”
“Not at all.” The last thing I felt around Clover Duke was pity. “Christmas Eve is yours.”
Clover
I pulled up in front of the clinic. I didn’t see Van’s truck. He offered to pick me up, but I was on my journey of being on my own.
Mostly, I was missing him, and a strong sense of homesickness would not let up. My first week living in my new place sucked as much as it was liberating. For one, I did it. I was doing it. I had a nursery. The baby had a roof over its head.
I had an old bed that used to be Laila’s, but she’d upgraded to a bigger size. The living room was filled with a love seat and a recliner. Neither matched. Jasper even brought me a TV he claimed he didn’t use anymore. Either he bought it for me, or Alder did. Perhaps my parents.
I should’ve turned them down so I could accomplish it myself, but it left me with more money to outfit the nursery. Except Haven Furnishings delivered the perfect dresser–changing station combo. Thanks to Van.
Mom called every day to check on me. I assured her that I had lived on my own pre-Elijah days, and I could do it again.
But working at my little round table I found in the thrift store and not seeing Van walk by was a constant shadow on each day.
He’d texted to check in, and I’d had to refrain from sending him something every day.
I would get to see him today.
I gathered my things and was about to get out when he pulled in. His expression was thunderous. He had his phone to his ear, and his lips were moving with enough force I’d be able to read them as he drove by if I had the skill.
I dropped my hand off the door latch. Was he running into issues with his business? Was he missing something important because of this?
He parked a spot away from me and threw his pickup into park. Resting an elbow on the window, he kept the phone to his face. His other hand punctuated the air several times.
Fuck you. I could read that.
He punched the screen with a finger and then slammed his phone against the steering wheel.
Oh no. All that hard work he’d been doing. Was it all down the drain?
My phone buzzed. I’d tossed it into my purse when I loaded into my cold car.
I dug for it. Who could be calling? Was my doctor canceling for some reason? I’d miss out on an hour with Van, but at least I’d get to see him.
There was a knock on the window, and I jumped, barking out a cry.
“Don’t answer it.” His muffled voice carried through the glass.
I stopped with my phone in my hand. “What? Why?”
He opened the door, and cold air gusted in. “It’s Elijah.”
I dropped the damn thing back into the depths of my purse. “What? Why?” My vocabulary shrank to two words. Elijah? Calling?
“He’s found out about us.”
“How?”
Van shrugged. “Maybe some of the town gossip hit socials. He’s pissed as hell.” My phone continued vibrating in my bag. “Don’t answer. He’s being a bigger asshole than normal.”
Before, I wouldn’t have been able to imagine what Van could mean. How could he be worse than usual? But after hearing how Van grew up, and what happened as adults, I could fill in the blanks.
“That selfish prick has no right to harass us.” I snatched my phone up without looking. Elijah’s name streaked across the screen, and it brought back memories. Mostly of when I was in the hotel room in Vegas and couldn’t get a hold of him. The hurt and fury lifted to the top of my brain.
“Clover, don’t. The things he’s saying—”
“Hello, Mrs. Wagner speaking.”
“Mrs. Wag— Clover? Is that fucking you? How could you—”
“Excuse me?” I said politely. “I don’t speak to little men who ditch women right before a wedding to run off with a stranger.”
“I didn’t—”
“And don’t think you can call me and demand any answers. You lost that right when you got handcuffed and fucked around.”
“I—”
“Do not for one second think I will let you back in my life.”
“What about my kid?”
A giant palpitation jumped in my chest. So he had gotten that message. A pressure lifted off my shoulders. I wouldn’t be the one to hide his kid from him. Elijah had to be an adult and think of more than himself. Or not.
“Do you want to see your kid?” There was a pause, and as much as it stung that I’d gotten pregnant by such a poor choice of a dad, I’d capitalize on it. “Do you want to pay for your kid? Are you going to put money away for college for this kid?”
More silence.
Figured. What a jackass. I had seen my siblings pairing off, and I’d wanted to join them so bad I picked a man like Elijah.
“I know everything, by the way. Not just the cheating, but the lying. And now you’re just mad because two people you’ve hurt to make yourself feel better teamed up and fixed some of the damage you did.
So, unless you want to start paying child support, I would recommend not stepping one foot back into the country.
As soon as the sole of your shoe hits US dirt, I’m going to find you, and I’m going to drain your wallet for the next eighteen years. And with Van’s help, I will find you.”
Van smirked, pride radiating across his face.
“What you can do,” I continued, “is email me within forty-eight hours and let me know if you want a role in this kid’s life. Otherwise, it’ll just be mine, and you owe us nothing.”
I didn’t want to take the chance that he’d decide to turn a new leaf in five years or ten years. I wanted all the power if he ever dealt with Bean. I could no longer trust him, and I’d do everything I could to protect us.
“I assume you didn’t lose my email address during your drunken honeymoon?”
“I can’t believe you married my fucking brother.” His seething snaked through the line.
“I can’t believe you’d fuck his girlfriend. Oh wait—I can.”
“He’s lying.” There was that petulant tone, the one Elijah used when he was busted for not being completely truthful. I’d heard it at enough cocktail gatherings.
“Between the guy who left me pregnant and broke at the altar and the one who’s been there for me through everything, I think I know who to believe.
Goodbye, Elijah. Tell your new wife she has my condolences.
” I hung up and then, for good measure, I blocked his number.
We’d communicate in writing from now on and only about Bean.
“Holy shit, Clover.” A cloud blew out of Van’s mouth with his laugh. “You gave him no way to weasel out of his excuses.” He held out his hand, and I gripped it to get out of the car. “I wish I could’ve done that.”
“I had warning, thanks to you.”
His gaze softened. “How’ve you been?”
Lonely. I missed waking up to him. Falling asleep next to him. I even missed the pillow wall since he’d been on the other side. But I’d just told my ex off and got some closure on a shitty situation. Small steps. I could do this.
But I didn’t have to do it completely alone. “By the time this appointment is done, my toast will have burned off. I owe you breakfast this time.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “I could always eat. Since I’m not accountable for meals, I haven’t cooked much.”
“Well then. Let’s go give Joni and the coffee drinkers something to talk about.”
Together, we walked toward the entrance, our shoulders nearly touching.