Page 15 of The Clover Chapel (Jamison Valley 2)
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“True. And if this does get taken to court, I doubt any judge would rule in his favor. But I need time to draft the appropriate papers. I could have processed an annulment within a week. A divorce settlement that ensures your assets are protected will be much more involved.”
“Okay,” I said. “Is there anything I should be doing while you work on the papers?”
“There’s nothing else for you to do. You might get some unwanted publicity, even with you no longer living in the city, but I doubt it. I’ll notify you and your father before the settlement is filed, as this work will go against his retainer fees.”
“No. Please bill me directly. Thank you, Fred,” I told him before we said our good-byes and ended the call.
I let my head fall into my hands as I sagged in my desk chair. “Stubborn and stupid,” I muttered to the empty classroom.
Years ago, Fred had told me that he could have my marriage to Nick dissolved on the grounds of abandonment.
Had I listened?
No.
Because I had been stubborn and stupid.
I had been too angry and upset to let Nick off the hook so easily. I had insisted that my private investigator would track Nick down in no time and I’d get the chance to look him in the eyes and watch as he explained why he’d lied and left.
Desperate for closure, I’d refused to get divorced until I got my explanation.
I’d had no idea that Nick Slater would be a ghost, impossible to find. That my stubborn streak would run so deep that, years later, I would still not have gone through with the divorce.
Now, looking back, I should have swallowed my pride and forgotten the idea of a standoff with Nick.
I should have gotten my divorce.
“Okay, class. That’s the lunch bell. You can all get your coats for recess and walk to the cafeteria.”
Shouts of glee filled the classroom as fourteen five-year-old kids rushed into the hallway.
We had just finished the story circle and I was shelving books, thinking about how much I was going to miss the kids and my classroom when I left Prescott.
I had no idea where I would move but with Nick living here, I couldn’t stay.
The idea of disappointing my colleagues and abandoning my students gave me a sharp stomachache but the thought of running into Nick on a regular basis, or seeing him with another woman, felt even worse.
Was he with someone now? Did he have kids? Just the thought sent my heart into my stomach. I needed to get away from here before he ripped me to shreds. Maybe I could make it through to summer and finish up the school year. If I lived as a hermit, sticking close to the school and home, I could probably avoid seeing Nick.
Lost in thought, I jumped when a rumbling voice sounded in the room.
“Emmy?”
Avoiding Nick was going to get really hard if he barged into my classroom.
I drew in a labored breath before spinning around, my eyes raking him from head to toe. He was as gorgeous as ever. Not much had changed about him over the years. His beard was a bit shorter and he had more muscle on his frame.
“Emmeline,” I corrected. “What are you doing here, Nick?”
“I told you Friday. We need to talk.”
“I’m not ready to talk yet.”
“Nine years wasn’t enough time to think of something to say?”
I winced at his joke. “Is that supposed to be funny? Because it’s not.”
