Page 119 of Something Forever

“Why do you care?” I snap, my patience thinning.

Avoiding my gaze, she picks at her napkin, tearing small pieces off and flicking them onto the table. The past few days have been an absolute nightmare. Between my mother’s constant badgering and my cold, empty apartment, I feel completely defeated. I don’t know why she won’t leave me alone about it, but Caroline has taken to texting me twice a day to ask if I signed the divorce papers.

“I don’t understand what’s taking you so long. The relationship was fake?—”

I shake my head. “I already told you it wasn’t fake. My feelings for him were real.”

She meets my gaze, her expression unreadable. “Really?”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I think he’s the only person I’ve ever really loved.” Tears gather at the corners of my eyes, and I blink furiously, wishing them away.

“I thought?—”

“We’re not here to talk about me. I can get you the money by tomorrow.”

“Oh.” She blinks then coughs, and for a while she just sits there looking more through me than at me. “Don’t worry about it,” she says eventually. “I figured it out.”

Why the lack of reaction? All she’s done since Liam left is go on about the damn money, and now it’s figured out? Before I can reply, she starts sliding out of the booth.

I grab her arm, confused. “You just got here.”

“I have to go.” Avoiding my gaze, she flees from the diner like a thief in the night.

I shake my head, baffled by her actions but too tired to worry about it any longer.

“More coffee?” the waitress asks, holding up a steaming pot. I shake my head and ask for the check. After I finish paying, I stumble out onto the sidewalk. Glancing around, I can’t help but see all the happy couples passing by, their hands intertwined, their heads turned towards each other like they have a secret language away from the world.

A pang of longing hits me in the gut.

Reaching into my pocket, I dial Mr. Wilson, the attorney in charge of my grandmother’s estate. I figure I should inform him about the divorce and see what’s going to happen with the remainder of my inheritance.

“Trent Wilson,” he answers immediately.

“Hi, it’s Whitney Rhodes,” I say, trying to keep the sadness out of my voice. “Agnes Rhodes’ granddaughter?”

“Ah, yes! Ms. Rhodes, how are you?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine, thank you. I just wanted to inform you that… my marriage is… well, I’m getting a divorce.”

It’s quiet for a moment before he responds. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”

“What happens with my inheritance now?” I ask him.

“Give me just one moment.” I hear papers shuffling on his end. “Okay, so in the case that you did not meet the requirements laid out in the will, your inheritance would defer to Agnes’ last living kin, which would be your mother, Caroline.”

I’m shocked into silence.

If I get a divorce, my mom gets the money.

Suddenly, everything seems to crystallize and click into place. No wonder she’s been showing up again. Pushing me so hard to sign the papers. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly be any more disappointed in Caroline, this happens. I always knew she cared about her herself more than she cared about me, but I never expected she’d…

“Ms. Rhodes? Are you still there?” Trent interrupts my spiraling.

“Yeah, um, thanks for letting me know. I guess… yeah. I guess that’s what is happening.”

“I can wait a few days to start processing it,” Trent suggests, his tone sympathetic. “If you’d like?”

I sigh. “That would be great. Thanks.”

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