Page 22 of Battle of the Exes

Rue says, “After you two broke up, you picked up and left. You never wanted to discuss the details. All I gathered was that he did something unforgivable.”

“That’s right.” I can’t believe I have to relive this now. But like a bubbling volcano, I erupt, “He was already married!”

The two women are staring at me. So is the couple at the next table.

I nod, taking it down a notch. “We returned from our honeymoon and there she was.”

“Who?” Mae asks. She and Rue are leaning in as if I’m about to share the nuclear codes.

“A woman waiting at the house.”

Despite all my efforts, it all comes flooding back.

A petite, dark-haired woman stands at the door of our tiny rental, lightly falling snow creating a gentle blanket on the ground. Beau and I get out of the car and immediately I see something unfamiliar cross my husband’s face.

Myhusband.

The word still feels foreign, I haven’t fully grasped that we’re actually married, that this kind, witty, supersexy guy is mine. But right now, it doesn’t matter because his face is as pale as a ghost’s.

“Are you all right?”

Before he can reply, the woman rushes toward us and straight into Beau’s arms, kissing him on both unsuspecting cheeks. “Mi esposo!”

He struggles to pull away from her. His mouth moves, but no words emerge.

The woman’s arms encircle my husband’s waist, her gaze filled with admiration.

My Spanish is lacking. I thought that word meanthusband.

Beau extracts himself from the small woman’s vise grip. “Carmen, what are you doing here?”

I smile, clueless and confused. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Ivy.”

She looks at me, smiles. “Hi, I’m Carmen Carter. Beau’s wife.”

Mae is back at the counter, helping other customers.

“That must have been nightmarish,” Rue says, setting a hand on mine.

It’s remarkable that I still feel anything when sharing the story but I do. The cake is gone and I’m tempted to order another slice.

Rue says, “It makes it harder for me to say what I have to say.”

I furrow my brow.

Rue goes on. “I need you to work with Beau on whatever his ideas are to save the Quill.”

I know I heard the words correctly but the meaning isn’t registering. Her face is dead serious. She leans in as if waiting for an actual reply.

“Are you insane! There is no way I’m working with Beau. He’s my ex-husband!”

“No offense, Ivy, but you were married to him for three days, twenty years ago. I know it was horrible but it may be time to get over it.”

I’m stunned into silence. Rue just heard how traumatic that time was for me. She studies my expression. “Is that steam coming out of your ears?”

I count to ten in my head and then take a long, cleansing breath. “Why don’tyouwork with him?”

“Because I have to run the store.”

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