Page 6 of Resisting the Fall

“We’re still married,” I blurted, giving up hope I was going to do any better than that with the current state of my mind.

Ben stared at me. “You got married? To that Colin guy?”

“No. We,” I said, removing my right hand from my pocket and gesturing between us. “We are still married.”

His brows lifted. “You and me?”

I nodded.

He gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Okay.”

“I’m serious, Ben.” I huffed out a breath and reached back into the car to grab the stack of papers from off the passenger seat. This was exactly why I’d requested the file to be printed. To get it through Ben’s thick skull, he would need to physically hold the evidence. I dropped it in his hands and pointed to the word DISMISSED stamped across the copied top page. “Our divorce was dismissed.”

His gaze met mine, a slight grin pulling onto his lips. “Let’s pretend for a moment that I believe you⁠—”

“Do you really think I’d drive here from New York City as part of a joke?”

He tilted his chin downward, throwing me an accusatory look.

“Fine,” I admitted. “But I wouldn’t joke about this. And not after all these years.”

“The signed copy of the judge’s final decision I received in the mail suggests otherwise.”

“Yeah, about that. Apparently, when you receive the signed judgment, a copy is supposed to be submitted to the court clerk to be recorded. If they don’t receive it within a year, they’ll dismiss the case. Without notice, clearly.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze scanning my expression before returning to the papers. He thumbed through the stack, as if verifying they were legit documents. Then he looked back at me. “You’re serious.”

It wasn’t a question, but I nodded my head.

With the way Ben ran a hand across his stubbled jaw, it took every ounce of self-control I possessed to keep my gaze from lingering on his jawline. “So, what now?” he asked, sounding annoyingly apathetic.

I clenched my hands into fists inside my pockets, refusing to let him glimpse my irritation. “The New York Courthouse is backlogged with cases, so the lady I spoke with at the Records Office said it would likely be quicker for us to file for divorce in Vermont as opposed to attempting to reopen the dismissed case. She also mentioned that in situations like ours, a judge has the discretion to waive typical protocols and come to an immediate resolution.”

Ben gave a nod. One. That was it.

I grabbed the stack of papers from him with my right hand, making sure my ringless left hand remained tucked in my pocket and out of view. “Which I’m hoping means that, with a quick trip to Burlington, by this time tomorrow, all of this will be behind us. For good.”

“Tomorrow?”

“If possible, yes.”

Ben folded his arms across his chest, studying me. “Let me guess. Your fancy city-boy didn’t take well to the idea of you being married to someone else?”

I swallowed but held his gaze. I couldn’t lie to Ben. He’d see right through it, but I also didn’t need to say more than was necessary. “I didn’t see the point in telling him.”

“Seems like a bit of a red flag.”

“Can you go to the courthouse with me tomorrow or not?” I snapped. I had no patience for Ben’s haphazard relationship judgements. It was his fault we were even in this mess. Well, it wasn’t his fault we were still married six years after we’d filed for divorce, but it was his fault we’d filed. Heck, while I was pointing fingers, it was also his fault we got married in the first place. “I know it’s inconvenient, but I really just want to get this taken care of.”

“Sure,” he said, his voice now clipped. “I can make it work.”

I released a pent-up breath. “Thank you.” As much as I also didn’t want to deal with this, a visit to the courthouse truly was the best and most timely option for both of us. “Would nine work to meet at the Family Division office?”

“Could we do ten thirty? I have an eight o’clock appointment I’d rather not reschedule.”

I supposed that would give me an opportunity to stop by a department store to purchase a fake engagement ring. With a diamond on display, I wouldn’t have to lie to Ben. It would do the dirty work for me. “Ten thirty, then. Don’t worry about any paperwork. I’ll bring it.”

Ben opened his mouth, then closed it again before taking a step away. “I guess I’ll see you there.”