Nigel
‘Well, this is lovely,’ his mother said. ‘All of us in the room at the same time for a board meeting. I think that’s the first time it’s ever happened. I must say I prefer seeing you all in person.’
Mark flinched. Lucy had probably kicked him under the table for that.
‘Shall we look at the sales spreadsheet?’ Klaus suggested.
Mark projected the figures onto the television in the corner.
Nancy got up from the table. ‘One advantage of Zoom was that I didn’t need my glasses.’ She started rooting around in the top drawer of the desk. Just as she found her glasses case, the doorbell rang.
‘Expecting anyone?’ Mark asked, switching to the door cam on his laptop. The television showed the view outside the front door. A woman in dark trousers and a sweater was standing on the doorstep with a clipboard.
‘Probably somebody selling something,’ Klaus said. ‘I’ll go.’
‘Is Nigel here?’ they heard the woman ask Klaus.
Nigel looked up at the sound of his name.
‘Nigel Farnham,’ she continued.
Nigel stood up. He had a horrible feeling he knew what this was.
‘Who wants to know?’ Klaus asked.
‘I’m from Anderson’s Legal. I have something he needs to sign for.’
‘Excuse me,’ Nigel said as he headed into the hallway. Klaus was returning from the front door.
‘There’s a woman outside asking for you. I was going to deny you were here, but it sounded official.’
‘Thanks.’ Nigel gave Klaus a half smile, but he wasn’t smiling inside. He’d been dreading this happening.
He opened the door. The woman consulted her clipboard. Probably checking that the man in front of her matched the photo she’d been given. ‘Nigel Alexander Farnham?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘This is for you.’ She handed him a large brown envelope. ‘Sign here, please.’ She offered him the clipboard and a pen.
He produced a shaky version of his signature, his heart thumping in his chest.
‘Thank you,’ she said, taking the clipboard from him. She walked back to her car. Nigel looked at the envelope, in no hurry to read its contents.
He walked back into the hallway. Open it now. Get it over and done with.
He carefully peeled open the flap and pulled out the papers inside
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
MADISON ELEANOR FARNHAM
Plaintiff
Madison. Nigel relaxed. Not what he’d been expecting. It was a sign of how crazy everything had been lately that receiving Madison’s divorce petition was a relief.
He slid the papers back in the envelope and walked back into the kitchen. Everyone looked up.
‘Bad news?’ his mother asked.
‘Not as bad as it could’ve been. Madison wants a divorce.’
His mother looked puzzled. Why did you say that? She’s going to wonder what you were expecting now.
‘I’m sorry, Nigel,’ Lucy said before his mother could say anything. ‘Shall we do this another day?’
‘No, I’m fine. It’s hardly a surprise. Let’s carry on. I can get myself lawyered up for Farnham vs Farnham after lunch.’