Page 57 of The Regrettable Mistake

“He will.”

CHAPTER 20

Ollie

“Judge Grant required that you both make an appearance before he would grant your divorce.” Caleb winced. “Sorry man, as much time as y’all have been openly spending together, I think the whole town thought you wouldn’t go through with it.”

“Of course, we’re going through with it. It was Steph’s one wish when I asked her.”

“I don’t understand you two.”

I shrugged. “You don’t need to. We’ve been working on our friendship.”

“Friendship?” Caleb asked in disbelief, as if he didn’t already know this.

“Yes, we’ve become friends. It’s something we never were before. All those fucking limits I put on us so that I wouldn’t fall for her weren’t exactly conducive to a healthy friendship, let alone a good marriage. She’s right to divorce me. She won’t even date me until we’re divorced.”

“I guess I can see it from her side. She should punish you.”

“It’s not about punishment. It’s about setting things to rights. I didn’t marry her under honorable intentions. She won’t stay in a marriage that was built on a business model rather than love.” She was right to feel that way too. The more we talked about it, the more merit it held. It meant I always held a certain expectation in the marriage – for her to be this perfect mom person and a bed warmer out of convenience.”

“Okay, well let’s make sure we get you to the courthouse on time for your divorce then.”

I grinned so wide Caleb shook his head at me. “Fucking crazy.” My friend mumbled.

I shrugged again and then got into his car. I planned to leave the courthouse with my ex-wife, so there was no need to bring my own vehicle.

Once we got to the courthouse, we were ushered into an office to await the judge instead of having our case heard in court. Steph waddled into the room with Hutch and her brother just two minutes before Judge Grant entered. Her hand was on her lower back as she stood before him.

“Dear Lord, how far along are you Mrs. Burton?”

“Thirty seven weeks.” Steph answered.

“Thirty-seven…?” The judge shook his head and then turned narrowed eyes on me. “You agreed to divorce your very pregnant wife?”

“Yes, sir. It’s what she wants.”

The judge shook his head at me too and then turned back to the woman who would only remain my wife for a few more minutes. “Are you sure this is what you want, all things considered?”

“Yes, sir. We have to…” Steph paused and grit her teeth then she offered the judge a half grimace, half smile. “We have to divorce.”

“Pardon my stating the obvious, but you appear to be under some sort of duress, dear.”

Steph breathed out three quick breaths in a row, all the while indicating “No” with her head shakes. “No duress. I just really don’t want to be married to him anymore. He married me for the wrong reasons and then cheated on me, Your Honor. I have valid reasons.”

“I’d say so,” He agreed before he turned to me again. “You seem entirely too eager for this to happen, so I won’t ask again. It appears all assets have already been split per the prenuptial agreement you entered into prior to the marriage and that there are no children born of your marriage.” Judge Grant eyed Steph’s stomach. I did as well because it seemed to be contorting and now that I thought about it, along with those grimaces and the breathing. Shit, Steph was in labor. We needed to get this done before she had our baby on the courtroom floor. I glanced up to see the final swipe of his signature of the document that stripped me of the title of husband.

“I now pronounce you both divorced. Miss Burton, you are free to change back to your maiden name.”

“That. Won’t. Be…” She huffed and a tear streamed down her face. “Necessary,” Steph finally managed to get out. “Need hospital.”

I moved over to her and picked her up. “Caleb grab those papers.” I all but ran out of the room with Steve hot on my heals. “Is her hospital bag in the car?”

“Yeah,” he eyed his sister suspiciously. “So are a bunch of blankets and towels, which I thought was weird pregnant woman hormonal behavior. She must have known she was in labor.”

“Steph,” I growled her name in admonishment.

“Needed this to happen first or they would have made us wait another six months because there’s a child.”

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