Page 49 of Choosing My Happiness
I checked my phone in the car and listened to the messages from today.
Darcy, my lawyer, had called me during my shift, and left a message.
Hello Daisy, I’m letting you know that I formally advised Mr Lovelace of our intention to commence divorce proceedings. I’m afraid he did not take it very well, so we might be in for a longhaul. I, uh, I also wish to inform you that there may be a conflict of interest in this case. My cousin is, uh, well, she’s one of the persons who he committed adultery with. I understand if you do not wish to proceed with my services, but as an incentive, I would like to offer my services pro Bono.
Fuck it Daisy, let me screw this guy.
I snorted in laughter. I wondered who his cousin was that he was so eager to avenge. I sent back a message to his phone number.
Hi Darcy, I appreciate the offer and would like to accept it. Be my guest. I have a feeling I’ll enjoy this more than him
A reply came through immediately.
YES, Thank you Daisy, you won’t regret it.
Thank you Darcy, I appreciate your support.
I smiled at the feeling of confidence that flowed through me. I had found my support crew, and now felt like I could achieve anything. I switched on the car so I could get home, get some food, and call Jim. I needed to hear his voice after today, while I was home. I needed the glimpses of warmth and comfort that he offered until I could see him again.
* * *
Another week passed, and I was again in the car, heading down the highway. Today was the day before Dad’s funeral. I had another three days off before having to be back for the weekend night shift. I was grateful to my team for covering me. I was alsolooking forward to seeing Jim again. We’d spoken everyday on the phone, but the thought of seeing him in person made my whole body shiver in anticipation. It was a pity that I couldn’t hide this visit and just be with him, seeing as all eyes would be on me during the funeral. There would be no opportunity to put my hands on him, and I really wanted to put my hands on him, and my lips, and any other body part that would fit.
I’d been able to stay with him last time because of my anonymity, albeit in separate rooms in his house. I wasn’t going to lower myself to Blaze’s level by having sex with another man while we were still married. But everyone was going to know me now, or show an interest.
Jim warned me that people had found out that he had a girlfriend, so he was getting stalked by the ol’ladies of the club who were trying to find out who she was. The buzz I felt at him acknowledging who I was to him was enough to help me face the next few days. I wish I could do the same for him. Just to be safe until the divorce came through, I’d have to stay with Mom or in a hotel.
I was worried Blaze would show up to Mom’s with Dylan while I was there. She’d been getting very clingy to the child since Dad died. Janie was a bit concerned, seeing as Dylan didn’t seem as happy anymore. Dylan, I could handle. He didn’t care that I was married to his dad, he was only interested in D2. The poor kid was just a pawn in everyone’s game.
Blaze was another story. He hadn’t given Darcy the details of his lawyer, so Darcy was going ahead as if Blaze was representing himself. This meant that Blaze was going to have to give him notice of his assets as of 4 years ago, when I last saw him. We’d picked this as a fair point of the end of shared assets. Darcy was a little upset that I didn’t want to take Blaze for more. But I just wanted out. If Blaze would sign the papers and giveme nothing except a divorce, I’d take that. But he was stalling, probably with the full support of Mom.
Mom was another big problem. I suspected she was still very much team Blaze. Hopefully tomorrow would keep her focused on Dad, instead of dreaming of Blaze and I reconciling. Even if Jim wasn’t waiting for me, the divorce was going through. I deserved better than what she had put up with, and the treatment that Blaze gave me.
I sighed and brought my focus to the road. Only 30 minutes to go. Then I frowned. There seemed to be a formation of bikes headed towards me. They passed me, and I saw the Ares Rider kuttes on all of them. I shrugged. It wasn’t a full contingent, so probably some boys getting together for an impromptu ride. A few minutes later, the rumble of the engines surrounded me as two of them passed me again, while the others hung back. The two settled in to ride just in front of my car, one on each point.
The two kuttes read as Horse and Bear. I couldn’t tell who was behind me, but it looked like I was in the middle of a parade. I kept my foot steady on the pedal and they guided me through to my mom’s house, then peeled away once I was safely in the driveway. I stuck my hand out the window and waved my thanks to them. It made me feel special that they’d done that, although I wasn’t sure why they had. It was sweet.
Mom rushed out of her front door, arms outstretched.
“So good to see you here, I’ve been hearing horrible rumors. But you’re here now,” she babbled as she hugged me.
“What sort of rumors, Mom?” I asked, detangling myself and walking around the back of the car.
“Something about a lawyer attacking Blaze and telling him you wanted a divorce. Really! You know as well as I do, a marriage is forever. There’s no way you’ll divorce Blaze,” she flustered on as I pulled my bag out of the car. I stopped, gathering myself.
“Ihavebegun the process to divorce Blaze,” I said quietly. I knew there were some twitchy curtains fluttering in the neighbors windows.
Mom didn’t seem to hear, and she swept past to open the house door for me.
“Why do you drive this old bomb? What happened to the car Blaze got you for the family? That would be so much safer than this! And when are you coming back for good? Blaze had kept that house empty for all these years waiting,” she continued as she stepped up into the house.
I debated whether to close the trunk and follow her. I could always get my bag back out of the car if she let me stay, but if I took it in and she threw me out, I wouldn’t be able to get back into the house to get it. I threw my bag back into the car and followed mom into the house.
She looked at me strangely as I closed the door behind me.
“Where’s your bag?” she asked. “I swear you took it out.”
“First things first, Mom. Did you hear what I said?”
