CHAPTER TWO-2
1032 Words
Maddie sat in the plush yet understated lobby of one Rebekah Blayne, attorney at law, absentmindedly toying with her watch as she waited for her appointment to begin. As usual, she’d arrived ten minutes early – a lesson learned from watching her father in his business dealings.
The anger that had fueled her making the appointment had dissipated, and an aching sadness had filled the vacancy. Fifteen years, just... gone. I know this is what’s right for me, but it still hurts.
“Madeleine?” Blayne’s receptionist called out. “Ms. Blayne’s just about ready. If you’ll come with me, please, I’ll show you to the conference room.”
Maddie stood, squared her shoulders, and followed the receptionist down the hall. As they walked, the woman said, “My name is Cheryl, it’s nice to meet you. Would you like anything to drink? Water, coffee?”
“I’ll take some water, please,” Maddie answered. “Thank you.”
Cheryl stopped at the second doorway on the left, and stepped to the side, saying, “Right in here. I’ll be back with your water. Ms. Blayne should be just a few moments longer.”
Maddie sat down, taking in the spectacular view of Lake Carolyn that only having offices on the eighth floor of a glass building could provide. One of the many perks of having a thriving practice in Las Colinas, she thought to herself as she waited. Moments later Cheryl returned with a bottled water, then gently closed the door behind her as she returned to the front desk.
Twisting the cap off the bottle, Maddie took a long drink to try to stem the tide of nerves she felt creeping in. Just as she put the lid firmly back in place, Rebekah Blayne entered the room.
“Good afternoon Mrs. Nibless, I’m Rebekah Blayne,” she said, extending her hand.
Maddie rose, accepting the handshake, and answered, “Please, call me Maddie.”
Rebekah took a seat at the end of the table at an angle from the chair Maddie had chosen and opened a notebook she’d brought with her. She looked at Maddie with sympathetic brown eyes for a long moment.
“Well, then, Maddie, please call me Rebekah,” she said with a kind smile. “Now, tell me about your situation.”
***
* * * *
Once she’d shared everything with Rebekah, the lawyer had asked several questions, then explained, “Maddie, it sounds to me like we’re talking what’s called a ‘no fault’ divorce. Basically, it means the cause is irreconcilable differences. Now, do you think Eric will fight you on this?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Maddie murmured. “We barely even talk anymore. So, I honestly have no idea what his reaction will be.”
“Okay. So, here’s some things I want you to be thinking about. You don’t have any children, and aren’t expecting any, correct?”
Not unless pregnancy in humans now lasts over four years, Maddie thought bitterly, but only answered, “No, no kids, at all.”
Rebekah made several notes as they talked, and at the end of their time together she’d concluded with, “I’m going to have Cheryl get all this into an outline and email it to you. You’re going to want to be thinking about these things ahead of time. If you think he might contest the divorce at all, it’s going to be better for us to have everything lined out as much as possible.”
“One last thing,” the lawyer told Maddie. “And I need you to answer me honestly. Do you have any concerns for your physical safety at all?”
“Eric is mean spirited, Rebekah, but he’s never once been physically violent toward me,” Maddie replied. “He prefers to use words as weapons.”
Rebekah arched an eyebrow as she gazed at her client.
“No, I’m not worried about my safety.”
“Good. I needed to hear you confirm that for me. When it comes to situations like this, you just never know.” And the look of pain showing briefly on Rebekah’s face let Maddie know she’d witnessed her share of abused clients.
By the time Maddie got home the document was ready and waiting in her inbox.
She ate a light supper – no point in cooking for just me, she reasoned – then settled in with a glass of sangria and the printed consultation summary and checklist of next steps.
***
* * * *
Mason locked up and left the office just after eight p.m., tired but jubilant. If things continued to go well, Gentries Unlimited would be able to unveil their new technology before April arrived. He grabbed a drive-through burger on his way back to his apartment to relax and watch the hockey game.
***
* * * *
As Maddie read, she made notes to herself, and then started on the lists Rebekah had mentioned regarding individual and joint assets.
Now that I think about it, we never truly shared anything.
At the time it had struck her as strange, but Maddie had shrugged it off as just another point of compromise in their relationship. Maybe the wine was starting to loosen her memory up – she remembered she’d done a lot of compromising over the last fifteen years.
She had desperately wanted kids, but did she have any? No. Eric didn’t want them.
“Hell, I wasn’t even allowed to have any pets,” she grumbled.
The more she thought about things, the madder she got.
The lists complete, she set down her pen, leaned back, and finished off the glass of wine.
One’s usually my limit, but I think it’s time to make an exception, she decided, staring at her empty glass.
Maddie went to the kitchen and poured herself another. Her cell phone, plugged into the charger, chirped at her from the living room, and she dutifully returned to retrieve it.
A new text notification. I bet fifty bucks I know who this is NOT from, she thought sourly. Pulling it up onscreen, her mood lightened to see it was from Kathy.
How did the lawyer’s office thing go?
About like I expected, Maddie typed in response. Made the asset lists like she suggested. Nothing much to do now but wait until he gets home so I can tell him it’s over.
A long pause, then another ping for a new incoming message.
I’m so sorry about all this, Mad. I have your back. Whatever you need, just let me know, okay? When does he come back?
“At least someone cares about whether or not I’m happy,” Maddie muttered, then answered, Friday night.
- Writer
