Epilogue Mariah
Six Months Later...
Sabrina stuck her head out of the sunroof. Seconds later, Kenni’s head popped up too. Sabrina whispered something to Kenni and the two of them threw up their hands and yelled, “Road trip!”
“Greenville or bust.” I placed my suitcase next to theirs and tapped the button to close the automatic liftgate of my new SUV, then stepped up on the running board and hopped inside.
Sabrina and Kenni dropped back down into their seats.
“Want a snack, Aunt Mariah?”
I looked back. Kenni extended a bag to me, and I took it. “Edamame beans.” I turned up my nose. “Do you have anything normal?”
Sabrina reached into the back seat and pulled a shopping bag into her lap. I reached over and stretched it open in my direction. There was trail mix, seaweed sheets, protein bars, and chickpea puffs.
“Where’s the good stuff?”
Sabrina scrunched up her face. “This is the good-for-you stuff.”
I craned my neck in Kenni’s direction. “Didn’t I tell you to fight for regular chips?”
Kenni giggled. “Trans fat is bad, Auntie.”
I pursed my lips and looked at Sabrina. “Trans fat is bad,” she said, snapping her seat belt.
“You are such a hippie. Do not deny my niece Doritos.”
Sabrina slipped on sunglasses. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
I pushed the ignition button, and just as I was about to pull away from the curb, I saw a familiar vehicle turning around in the street. It pulled behind me.
Sabrina lowered her sunglasses and looked out. “Seriously. He is behaving like you’re going to Mars.”
“Oh, and like Quinton wouldn’t be here if wasn’t working?” Mariah rolled her eyes. “That wedding of y’all’s can’t come fast enough.”
“Girl, mind your business about Quinton,” Sabrina said, looking down at the enormous, whole-year’s-salary diamond she had on her finger.
Dante stepped out of his car. My heart melted and pooled into my stomach. He reached back in for a shopping bag before coming to my window.
“I got you some snacks,” he said, handing me the bag. He looked in the back seat. He waved at Kenni. “Hey, Kenni girl.”
Kenni covered her eyes and smiled shyly. She loved Dante. He played with her like he was her age, and she adored him.
I looked inside the bag and found all my favorites, including Doritos and a Slim Jim. I pulled the bag to my chest. “You are the best.”
“I figured Sabrina was going to do you dirty.”
“Whatever,” Sabrina said. “You all need to try something new. You might like my snacks.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said, recapturing his attention. “I’m going to miss you.”
“For three whole days,” Sabrina added, extending her neck so she could see around me. She waved. “Don’t fall into a depression while we’re gone.”
Dante laughed. He leaned out of the window and said, “I’m not going to hold you. Come back free.”
I nodded. “I plan to.”
I watched him walk back to his car and get in.
“Lord hammercy dat man.” Kenni giggled.
Sabrina and I looked back at her and then at each other. “You are no longer to check out your bae in front of my daughter.”
I waved Sabrina’s words away. “Girl, please. She needs to know how to pick ’em.”
“We’d be looking for a new chef by now if you two weren’t cooking up love in the kitchen,” Sabrina teased.
She was right, and that was why I couldn’t get on the road fast enough. I pulled the car away from the curb, and we were on our way.
Four hours later, I pulled into Ellen’s driveway. Ellen was on the porch and taking the steps before we even got out of the car.
“Nana!” Kenni screeched. Sabrina undid her seat belt and let her rush to her grandmother.
Ellen kissed Kenni five times, and then she wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her like she hadn’t seen her just last month when Sabrina and Quinton brought her to visit. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’m glad to see you too, Nana.”
Ellen looked over Kenni’s shoulder at me and Sabrina. She greeted us. Sabrina took her purse and snack bag out of the car and walked to Ellen who put Kenni down, and she and Sabrina embraced. The hug was warm and loving and long.
“You look good,” Ellen said, squeezing Sabrina’s forearm.
Sabrina smiled, “So do you.”
I stepped out of the SUV, pulling my jacket together. The weather in the Upstate smelled like snow, which was always welcome during the holidays. I gave Ellen a proper greeting. She invited me to stay, but I had an early dinner date with Hope.
Sabrina waved, and I watched the three of them walk into Ellen’s house.
I got back in the car, and just as I was about to back out of the driveway, I received a text message from Hope that read: My mom asked me to stay a few extra days. I’ll see you next time.
My shoulders slumped. I was looking forward to hanging out with my bestie while I was here.
I sent Sabrina a text. Not seeing Hope, so don’t bother with an Uber to the hotel. I’ll pick you up when you’re ready.
Through the glass door, I could see Sabrina remove her phone from her pocket. She swiped the screen, looked back at me, and blew a kiss in my direction.
“Have fun,” I whispered. I backed the car out and headed to my old apartment building in Duncan. I noted the late model Chevy that belonged to Jordy’s mother in the driveway. I pushed the button to open the liftgate, removed my sunglasses, and stepped out. I slid a box forward and hoisted it on my hip, walked to the door, and rang the bell. Seconds later, the door opened.
“Miss Mariah,” Jordy exclaimed.
“Hey, stranger,” I replied.
Jordy’s mother, Rose, whose name I only knew from the packages, appeared behind him. “Jordan, let her breathe.”
He stepped back.
“I had to come to town to handle some business...” I looked into the food box, “...and I had a bunch of frozen stuff...” I let my words trail off.
“As if the meal delivery service and other things you’ve done for us wasn’t enough,” Rose said. “Let me take this from you.” She reached for the box.
“I miss your soups,” Jordy said. His smile was all teeth. He’d gotten taller, and he was no longer as thin as he used to be.
“All your favorites are in the box,” I replied. “Just in time for the cold.”
Rose stepped back. A welcoming smile filled her eyes. “Please come in, Mariah. I’d really like to get to know you.”
Jordy pulled the door open wider, and I walked into their home.
***
The clicking of my heels on the vintage marble floors was the only sound in the corridor at the Turnin County Courthouse. I’d only been here once before, and as I had the first time, I noted the historically rich interior, walnut paneled walls, massive wood beams, and ornately carved chair rails and benches. There was only one courtroom, and it was behind a set of tall double doors made of glistening mahogany wood. It was obvious that the janitorial staff took pride in polishing the brass handles. Their shine matched the crystal in the chandelier that hung in front of it.
Today was the day I put Vince behind me forever, and the reason I could smile about it was because everything was settled. We were only here to sign papers.
I slipped into the chair next to my attorney. She turned to greet me and then gave her attention back to the bailiff. They were looking at each other’s pictures from their children’s soccer games.
A dull rhythmic tap on the hardwood floor got everyone’s attention. It was Vince... on a set of forearm crutches. He was thin and gaunt. His health had diminished. He’d aged. He didn’t look like the same man who asked me for a divorce a year ago. The Hendley gossip grapevine spread the word that he was not expected ever to walk again without assistance. The rumor reached Hope’s ears, and she, of course, told me. I felt horrible for him. Although he hurt me, I’d forgiven him. Bitterness wasn’t my portion, not anymore.
Vince made it to the plaintiff table. His attorney whispered to him, and then Vince looked at me. We exchanged a nod. We were the only ones in the courtroom. The Clark name carried power. Vince’s attorney requested a private proceeding to ensure no one in Hendley had spectator seats.
The bailiff stepped into place and said, “All rise for the Honorable Judge Hughes.” The judge’s presence filled the room with an aura of command.
Judge Hughes gave us permission to sit. She put on a pair of reading glasses, and the clerk called our case. All the preliminary steps were taken, and then the judge began, “Vincent and Mariah Clark, the court has reviewed your divorce settlement. By signing it, both parties agree to the following...”
She went through a list of our properties and assets, awarding Vince his family home and me a secret cabin in Tennessee that Vince purchased three years ago. That was discovered when my attorney did a deep dive into his assets. I received half of our retirement accounts and ten percent of revenue generated from Clark’s Diner for the next seven years. I also received all the proceeds from merchandise agreements to date and was entitled to 50 percent of any deals negotiated for the next seven years. He even had to pay my attorney fees. And finally, I was to be paid a percentage of profits from any television show Vince negotiated, although now it seemed unlikely he would have one anytime soon. He was still healing, and his young chef-girlfriend was gone.
I got more than I expected, which was at least half of our marital worth and Clark’s future worth. Although Vince tried to drag in the fact that I lied about trying to get pregnant, it didn’t matter. He’d been hiding assets from me for years. But the thing that really hurt him was his infidelity. That’s the way it was in South Carolina.
When we were done, I turned to Vince and said, “Take care of yourself.”
He pressed his lips together and replied, “You too.”
My attorney and I walked out with my being over three hundred thousand dollars richer, and that didn’t include the value of the cabin. I was winning in ways I never dreamed I could. I was living proof that sometimes you need Jesus and a good therapist to make it through and then to make it better.
I left the courthouse. It was time to pick up my sister and niece so we could get back to Georgetown where we’d continue to enjoy this sweet season God had given us.