Page 20 of Just My Ex

He thinks he’s attacking this from a purely professional standpoint but there’s something like fear there.

He always told me his worst fear was losing me.

So, I guess his worst fear came true last year when our marriage was ended in a court of law, huh?

I have to focus on that right now. Not on his black corduroy jacket over his crisp white shirt. Not on his short haircut that’s growing out in such a way that I’m suddenly craving to run my fingertips over it.

Why had he even cut it that short? I’m not sure because Henry doesn’t tell anyone anything. Yes, I know he has an iron-clad NDA. But he could have been more open about how hefeltabout the work he did, right?

And his tattoos? There are a couple of new ones, and again, I’m not hating them. It’s hard to tell what they are, but one might be a bird since I can see what appears to be feathers. I won’t be asking him about them, though, because I have to keep my distance. I have to be careful with my heart.

I sigh and rub my temples with my fingertips, glad that Navie’s sound asleep upstairs so that we can talk about this “stalker” situation openly. I know she’s still asleep because I’ve checked the baby monitor app on my phone three times since we started the meeting.

“This is Raymond Delfini.” Henry presses a button on a little remote to display a picture of Raymond—one I recognize from a family photo—on the screen in front of us. Then he stares at his iPad while the screen on the wall comes to life.

The man has created a PowerPoint. A frigging PowerPoint.

I don’t know whether to be annoyed, flattered, or relieved that he’s taking this so seriously.

“He’s Gru fromDespicable Me!” Sophie, the wife of Oliver, Tate brother number two, says. “Your uncle’s totally Gru Incarnate.”

The rest of the family laughs. Henry scowls. I don’t think he appreciates any attempt at humor right now.

Sophie’s eyes crease. “Sorry.” She looks at me. “I didn’t mean to make light of this.”

I smile and shake my head. Her comment isn’t all that far off, but Henry plows ahead with his little spiel.

I resist the urge to point out to everyone that I’m wearing oneDespicable Mesock right now. I don’t remember what the other one is. It’s such a cool coincidence, but I guess it’s somewhat irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

I think, because of his PowerPoint flex going on, I’m going to learn more about him and his job than I ever did in the four years we were married.

Interesting.

Henry leafs through a stack of papers and begins passing one to each of us. It’s got a couple of photos of Raymond, his wife Nancy, and his daughter Marley, as well as several bullet points I don’t even think I want to read.

Oliver’s brows go up. “You made ahandout?”

Ignoring that comment, Henry continues on. “Raymond is sixty-six years old. He’s Quinn’s dad’s older brother.” Henry’s face is grim. “Quinn’s father passed away five years ago from a brief illness. Raymond owns a novelties company in Sacramento. He spent some time in prison in the eighties for assault and battery of a stage manager he worked for when he was a stand-up comedian.”

Henry’s jaw titters before he continues on. “Six months ago, Raymond’s father, Ronald Delfini, died. A couple of weeks later, the will was read to several members of the family by a representative from the Irvine law office of Stanley and Kirchausen.”

Wow. He did his research.

“Raymond, as executor of the will, must have known that his father changed it several months before he died. But it seems he didn’t know how it was changed until the will reading, where Quinn, Raymond, Nancy, and Marley were in attendance.”

“I went only because I received a phone call from the attorney’s office requesting me to be there,” I offer. Because I wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t.

Henry glances at me. I can usually read his expressions, but not this time.

“That’s right. And prior to that meeting, you had no knowledge of the contents of the will.”

I shake my head. “None.”

“The will is read, and as you know,” his gaze flickers to me again. “Quinn was named beneficiary of all of her grandfather’s assets, which total a little over one million dollars, if I’m correct?”

Elianna whistles at the amount.

“I was shocked,” I say. “I don’t know why he gave it to me.”

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