Page 26 of Claiming His Wife
“What was that look for?” Kaiya was obviously amused.
“You know why,” Kalilah offered. “I didn’t want to have supper with him.”
“You could have filed for the annulment in Seattle, you know, and had the lawyers battle it out,” her sister pointed out.
“And miss the look on their faces when I walked away a free woman? Never!” she joked, knowing that her sister was perfectly correct in her assessment. Jonathan had given her the very same argument, but she felt the need to come here and face Finn. She wanted him to see the woman she’d become. The woman who could no longer be pressured into doing anything that she didn’t want to do. Now here she was being pressured into dinner.
“I had almost forgotten about that quirky sense of humor of yours,” Kaiya said.
“Seriously though, I wanted to do this personally. I had to come and look them in the eyes while I avenged that part of me that was betrayed all those years ago.” She didn’t need to explain whotheywere.
Her sister moved around the bed to hug her at that declaration and smiled sadly.
“If anyone can understand that, it’s me.”
Kalilah sighed and began explaining the bargain she struck with her husband.
Kaiya patiently and waited till the very end to comment.
“Does Jonathan know about this?”
“No, and frankly I’m unsure about whether or not I should tell him.”
“I don’t think you should,” Kaiya advised her.
At that, Kalilah’s eyebrows rose in astonishment.
“Don’t tell him; he’ll never understand. Imagine finding out that your girlfriend has to date her husband in order to get a divorce.” Kalilah’s stomach knotted at her sister’s interpretation of her dilemma.
“You’re saying I should lie to my boyfriend?”
“Not a lie, more of an omission,” she reassured.
She went over what her sister just said and realized that she may be right. It wasn’t like Jonathan was in Montréal. He wouldn’t find out unless she told him, and she didn’t want him to get hurt either. This was her fight, and she was only doing what was necessary for their future.
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I am. After you’re happily married to him with a baby, tell him then,” she said baby in a hoarse whisper and then took a deep breath and cast her eyes down. She then shook off whatever she was feeling and continued, “so it doesn’t come back to bite you in the butt.” Kaiya advised on a devious wink.
Kalilah’s mind was blown.
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m getting this kind of advice from you… my baby sister.”
“I’m not a baby anymore.” Kaiya laughed at her incredulous face and stuck out her tongue at her.
“You’re my baby. Do you remember when you snuck into my bedroom during the night when you had nightmares or believed you had a monster living in your closet?”
“Hey! The monster was real, I saw him.” She gave Kalilah a small shove. “You always protected me, even though Mother would be upset to find us in the same bed in the mornings.” Her tone turned serious and then she continued, “Listen, sis, I was too young to help you back when Dad threatened you, but I’m older now and ready to help you get your happily ever after, on your terms. And as for Finn?”
“What about him?” Kalilah asked, choked up. She was so moved by her sister’s declaration.
“It’s just one night, and you can totally spend it driving him crazy.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Don’t worry about it, I have a plan.”
***
