Chapter 31
Shannon
After dinner, which Hudson cooks with me, he helps me assemble Serafina’s new crib.
He also helps me with her bath time routine by making her laugh and splash while I pour warm water over her chubby little arms and belly.
The task has been much less of a chore recently, but with Hudson playing peek-a-boo and hearing Serafina’s delighted giggles, it quickly becomes one of my favorite parts of today.
Unfortunately, he can’t stay since he has to work tomorrow, but the glass of wine we share once Serafina’s down is a wonderful way to end our evening.
We’re on the futon, my legs draped across his lap, drinking our wine from plastic cups when Hudson laughs in that carefree way of his. “I feel like we’re in college except this wine is decent. My sister will definitely like you if you make a wine drinker out of me.”
“I can’t wait until we’re past the hard part and you and I are just another boring couple to everyone,” I tell him, kissing the corner of his mouth just because I can.
“I can’t wait for my friends to meet you. They’re going to love you. And we can have days at the lake with all the kids,” he says, casting dreams of his own. “You and Serafina will have to come out on Knox’s boat. It’s so much fun.”
His excitement rejuvenates my soul.
We drag our evening out as long as we can, but at nine o’clock, I tell him to go. He needs to get to bed.
“I have to work at the fire station tomorrow so I won’t see you before you head to the beach, but please be careful. Call me whenever you can.”
I nod and he kisses me in a way that is goodbye and hello all at once.
“By the next time I see you, I’ll officially be separated,” I announce.
I already applied for a new driver’s license with the apartment as my address, I’ve had my mail forwarded, and like Monica instructed, I’d called and hired the top divorce attorneys she’d given me the contact information for so I’m finally ready for the next step.
Things are moving along and I’m supposed to meet with one of the attorneys next week and the other two the following week. Once I know that Gregor can’t completely take Serafina from me, I’ll rest easier, but still, I’m excited for the progress.
I almost cry when dropping my baby girl off to my mom—who tries to reassure me that my daughter is in good hands.
This makes me choke out a laugh. “Mom, I know. I’m just really dreading this trip and I’m ready for it to be over. I’m telling Greg on Sunday that I’m filing for divorce.”
She nods solemnly as she bounces Serafina and distracts her with a stuffed animal. “Just be careful, okay?”
It’s a pretty big red flag that everyone is telling me to be careful. The blow to his ego is going to sting, but enough to throw a punch?
I get in the car and shoot Greg a text to let him know I’m on my way—surprisingly, receive a thumbs up emoji—before immediately calling Hudson to let him know the same thing.
He replies with, “I checked the traffic and it looks like you have a clear shot down the highway. There’s a nice shopping center about fifteen miles before the Army base, but try not to stop any closer than that if you can.
Those guys can get rowdy around women travelling alone. At least, they did when I was in.”
We talk as long as we can, but I can hear the exhaustion in his voice from being on at the fire station last night.
“Just promise me you’ll call if you need anything,” he says emphatically as we get off the phone.
I’d prayed to get stuck in traffic, or even to be involved in a mild fender-bender that would send me to the hospital with whiplash and a mild concussion to get me out of going—how’s that for red flags?
But no luck.
I pull into the parking lot of the resort at seven-thirty, my stomach in knots.
Shannon
Just pulled in. Where should I go?
I wait for five minutes with no response. I figure he’s deliberately not checking his phone to punish me for not coming down with him. Fed up with his bullshit, I grab my bag and head to the front desk.
“Hi, I’m Shannon Hartley, my husband is here as part of the Billings, Wilson, and Cox group. I was wondering if we could have an extra key. I think my husband’s in a meeting and I’m just arriving.”
The gentleman behind the counter types something and then frowns. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hartley, he’s already requested two keys, resort policy states we have a two-key max for each room.”
Of course it does.
I give him a tight smile. “Sure. Can you tell me the number of the room I’ll be banging on the door of then?”
“Looks like he’s in room 437, but please refrain from disturbing our other guests,” the guy says.
“I wouldn’t have to disturb anyone if you’d just use your machine right there to swipe another keycard,” I bite sardonically as I turn on my heel to head toward the bank of elevators.
It’s not this man’s fault that my husband is a prick, but I’m emotionally drained, my tank is already on empty just from being here, and I’m tired of being treated like a goddamn child.
Standing outside room 437, I knock loudly three times and wait.
Nothing.
I try again.
Still nothing.
Pulling my phone out, I call Greg, but he lets it go to voicemail. Bastard!
I open up our text stream and type one more message.
Shannon
If you don’t answer me, I’m turning around and driving home.
It doesn’t even take ten seconds for him to text me back.
Greg
We’re in the conference room on the second floor. I’ve got your key.
“No shit,” I grumble to myself.
Picking up my duffle bag, I walk back to the elevators and ride down to the second floor. There are no windows into the conference room, so I just assume I’m in the right place and knock.
John Cox opens the door, and with his back to my husband—although, honestly it wouldn’t matter if Greg could see—his eyes scan my frame. I almost laugh out loud when his features display his disappointment at my baggy turtleneck and jeans.
That’s right, fuck you and your wandering eyes.
“Shannon, I’m so glad you made it,” Greg says, stepping around the table to pull me into a hug. He’s never been big on PDA, so I’m completely taken aback when he grips the back of my neck and shoves his tongue down my throat in front of his colleagues.
Without thinking, I use both hands to shove him off me.
“Greg, what has gotten into you?” Completely embarrassed, I look around the room to find five pairs of eyes on us. When I look back at Greg, his face is red with anger.
“Excuse us a moment, will you?” he says to the onlookers.
Placing a hand on my low back, he guides me from the room.
When the door shuts behind him, he takes advantage of the fact that there are no windows and backs me into the wall of the hallway.
“I thought I told you your contact with him was to stop, Shannon.”
My mouth goes dry as I try to keep my face as neutral as possible, but the more he talks, the harder it becomes.
“I let you get a job, I allowed our daughter to basically be raised by your mother, and I was even willing to overlook your little meetup at the aquarium, but you just had to fucking have him, didn’t you?” Greg says, dangerously close to my face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I don’t necessarily mean to lie, but self-preservation is a strong instinct—as is the need to protect Hudson.
But it all goes out the window when Greg pulls up an image on his phone of Hudson holding a bouquet of flowers outside my apartment door.
“You’re having me followed.” It’s not a question nor is it said in shock. I should’ve known.
“Of course, I had you followed. And tomorrow, while we’re celebrating my new status as partner, your boyfriend is going to be getting served with the biggest alienation of affection lawsuit this state has ever seen.
And when he can’t pay it, I’m going to have his wages garnished, a lien a put on his house, and his fucking car repossessed.
He won’t be able to afford his niece and nephew’s daycare bill anymore and you can definitely guarantee I’m going to his boss with this.
So, come Monday, he won’t even have a job to begin paying on his debts.
And if you try to leave this weekend, or don’t put on the happiest of smiles for me at tomorrow’s dinner, I’ll go after his sister too.
I’d really enjoy making her look like a fool in that courtroom next week.
” A wave of nausea hits so hard, I pitch forward at the waist, dry heaving, until Gregor pushes me upright by the shoulders.
“Either way, I’m going to ruin your boyfriend so thoroughly he’ll wish he’d been in that car with his brother-in-law. ”
My eyes go wide at the monster before me and I break.
Just like he wanted me to.
“YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” I yell. “Leave Hudson alone! I was the one that pursued him, not the other way around. This is my fault.”
“Oh, I know it is, but the best way to punish you, is to destroy him. Welcome to the beach.” My breathing is ragged and my nostrils flare as I fight my tears.
Gregor pulls a room key from his pocket and holds it in front of my face.
“I’ll be back by eight-thirty. It’d be wise for you to be there when I return. ”
I snatch the key, grab my bag, and practically run to the elevators. The silver doors haven’t even slid all the way closed before my tears spring free and my shaking hands call Hudson one last time.