Page 5 of One Last Time
“If it’s over, then we have to act like it. You can’t want to divorce me but then make love to me. It’s too confusing.” I sit up and adjust my clothesback.
Scott gets to his feet and walks to the door. He pauses and looks back at me. “It’s fine. It’s not like it’s ever that goodanyway.”
He closes the door, and I curl up, clutching my knees to my chest as I cry as quietly as I canmanage.
Chapter Two
Kristin
~ Six Months Later ~
“Finn,move that box into your new room,” I instruct him when I find him sitting on the couch with his headphoneson.
“I’m watching a video,” he snapsback.
“I don’t care. You have to help,” I say as Heather, Danielle, and Nicole carry boxesinside.
Heather places a box on the floor and rubs Finn’s head. “Hey, can you help Eli with thetable?”
He looks at his “aunt” and smiles. “Surething.”
One day, I’ll remember why I wanted children. I smile at my best friend who is standing in what used to be her home. There’s not a day in my life that I don’t thank God for my broken ankle in seventh grade that forced Heather into my life. She’s saving my ass right now by giving the kids and a me place to live—rent-free.
“Thanks a lot, Finn! I’m not putting up with this attitude of yours,” I yell at the back of hishead.
Finn glares at me and crosses his arms. “I didn’t ask tomove.”
“Let him be, honey.” Heather squeezes my hand. “We’re here tohelp.”
I close my eyes and count to five. I know this has been hard for the kids, but Finn has been unbearable. Aubrey isn’t a walk in the park, but at least she’s mainly stuck to tears, which can becomforted.
“I wish this were easier,” Imuse.
“I’m sure, but they’ll adjust.” She smilesreassuringly.
If anyone knows about adjusting, it’s Heather. Her life has been one thing after another, and she’s stillstanding.
We both make our way into my bedroom and start unloadingclothes.
“Was Scott still his ever-lovely self on the phoneearlier?”
She caught that. I guess being a cop for as long as she has been makes her the most observant of usall.
My husband—soon to be ex-husband—has made my life absolute hell during the last month. He’s gone back and forth on everything we agreed upon. I had hoped we’d have a smooth separation and then an amicable divorce. I should’ve knownbetter.
Nothing with Scott is ever easy, but when you add money in, forgetit.
He’s threatened everything under the sun to keep from having to pay foranything.
“He now wants to discuss more of a joint custody agreement so that he doesn’t have to pay any child support. He says he’s paid his dues, and if I want to push him, he’ll go for fullcustody.”
“Such a fucking prick,” she grumbles as she places shirts in thedresser.
“Yup.”
“So, he’s threateningyou?”
I sigh and place the hanger on the rack. “Not threatening as much as making this difficult. We got the divorce papers, and they are completely ridiculous. Nothing we had agreed on is there. I mean, basically, he wants me to walk away from the marriage without a penny and payhim.”
