Life After Perfect (22 page)

Chapter Twenty

Monday morning Katy got in her car and headed back to Atlanta. She’d been a little anxious the whole ride, but it wasn’t until she drove past the Carpe Diem Bistro that her mood dipped.

Shaleigh’s office was just a few more blocks up the street. She shouldn’t have been surprised by the plush, high-end look of the offices when she walked in, but it made the super-high hourly rate make even more sense. If location was everything, Shaleigh had picked the right spot. Even from where she was, standing at the receptionist’s desk, she had a clear view of some of the nicest parts of the city.

“I have a two-thirty with Shaleigh. Katy.” She stopped herself short. “Katherine Barclift.”

The receptionist wore a designer suit that probably cost an easy five hundred bucks, and Katy had treated herself to the same necklace earlier this year. She wondered if it was a coincidence that the receptionist’s outfit coordinated perfectly with the fine leather chairs and metal sculptures in the room.

The woman announced her arrival.

A moment later the door to the waiting area opened and in walked Ron and his attorney.

Katy turned back to the receptionist wishing she’d been just a couple minutes earlier and could have missed this awkward moment.

“Katherine. You look beautiful,” Ron said.

“Thank you.” She’d actually stopped at the outlet and picked up a new little black dress and heels. A much sexier one than she’d been wearing, with the thought that it wouldn’t hurt to just make him wish she was still his. Childish, she knew. But the look in his eyes right now told her all she needed to know. It had been worth it.

Shaleigh poked her head out into the waiting area. “Hi, Katherine. Will you come with me?” She glanced over at Ron and his attorney. “We’ll be with you in just a few minutes.”

Katy walked past them and she could feel Ron’s eyes on her all the way to the door. She slipped behind the door and Shaleigh wrapped her into a big hug. “You look dynamite, girl! I think this separation becomes you.”

“Thank you.”

“You doing okay?”

“I am.”

Shaleigh shuttled her down the hall to a large fish bowl of a conference room. “You and I will sit here. They can face the sun . . . I mean the view, of course.”

“Tricky.”

“Yeah. Whatever. Sometimes you have to take pleasure in the tiniest things. He’s asking for counseling.”

“Good. He should get some. Cheater.”

“No, couples counseling,” Shaleigh explained. “He wants you to move back into the family home and maintain your half of the bills, as you’ve established over your ten years of marriage. He wants the two of you to go to couples counseling, and he wants you to pay to have the young lady’s car repainted.”

Katy’s eyes felt like the ones on springs that boogeyed out of a cartoon character’s head. “You cannot be serious. It was lipstick. Tell the tramp to go to the Wishy Washy. I am not paying to have her little car repainted.”

“Well, you might end up having to do that, just because it’s on video and there’s no question you did it. We’ll ask our own body shop to do an estimate.”

“I’m not doing it as part of my separation, and what the hell kind of separation order is that? It sounds like a together order.”

“Umm-hmmm. What are you thinking?”

Katy’s tongue felt so thick that she could barely spit the words out. “That the guy has lost his ever-loving mind.”

“You’re not going back?”

“No. I absolutely am not,” Katy said.

“No counseling? What if he gets counseling?”

“No.” Katy couldn’t even believe Shaleigh was asking this. Hadn’t they had this conversation?
Is she second-guessing my decision?
But she knew what she was doing was right. This was the right path for this point in her life. She was taking her life back. “Whose side are you on?”

“Hey. I’m on your side. I’m just asking you these questions so you and I are on the same page before we all get in the room together.”

“Fine.”

“Here’s what I’ve drawn up. It’s a split right down the middle of all of your funds. You keep your own 401(k) and IRA, he keeps his. You each keep your cars.”

“I sold mine.”

“The Mercedes?”

She nodded. “Traded it in for a Chevy Malibu.”

Shaleigh started laughing. “He doesn’t need to know, but you know it will frost his balls. Can I mention it? Please let me roll it out there.”

“Sure. Have a ball. I’ll be sitting here watching him die a thousand deaths over that. Might be the best part of it all.” Was there any chance she could videotape that?

“This’ll be great.” Shaleigh focused back on the papers she’d drawn up. “I have him getting the house and he pays you half of the equity that’s in it. No alimony.”

“Sounds fine to me.”

“Okay, well, let me get our boys.”

Katy’s hands shook under the table as she sat there waiting for Ron and his lawyer to come to the conference room with Shaleigh. Katy fought the nervous twitch in her eye, hoping it wasn’t a sign she was going to cry, because she was done crying over Ron or the past.

She was even done being bitter. It was what it was, and some of those years had been awesome. She was no worse off because of those years; now, she’d take her experience and live a new life. One where she chose the priorities and the pace, and if she didn’t find a new partner in life, maybe she’d just adopt a child and raise the child on her own. Women did it all the time.

Ron and his lawyer sat down.

“We can work this out, honey,” Ron said.

She didn’t respond, just turned her attention to Shaleigh. She let Ron’s attorney speak first. He didn’t say anything new, just pretty much what Shaleigh had outlined to her earlier. Then Shaleigh kicked into high gear and Katy saw firsthand why her friend was the best divorce lawyer in the business. She was amazing to watch. In thirty minutes, she had rolled out the pictures of Melissa and Ron, the video of the girl leaving their home, and gotten in the little mention of her Chevy Malibu, after which Ron spoke up and asked about the Mercedes.

It took everything Katy had not to laugh.

“You can’t just get rid of that car. How much did you get for it?”

Shaleigh handled it all like the pro she was, and Ron stammered like a skipping record.

By the end of the meeting, Katy had a signed separation agreement, leaving the divorce papers as the next and last step.

She left Shaleigh’s office feeling on top of the world. She called Peggy as she pulled out of the lot.

“Hey, Peggy,” she said.

“Katherine. How are you?”

“Great. Just got my signed separation agreement and divorce is the next step. I thought I’d stop by before I headed back out of town. You free?”

“I’d love to see you. Come on over.”

There were no cars in the driveway at her old house when she drove up to Peggy’s. She felt like celebrating and she had a feeling Ron wasn’t feeling quite as much the winner right now. Served him right.

She gave a double-knock on the door and Peggy answered.

“You look great!” Peggy stepped back. “Come in. Let me look at you.”

“How have you been?”

“Good. That little town looks like it’s treating you right.”

“It’s great. You should come visit me in Boot Creek. It’s a charming little place. I even danced in the streets at a blackberry festival with a very good-looking doctor one night. Can you picture me dancing in the streets? We’re talking conga line.”

“No. I absolutely cannot imagine that. Hysterical.” Peggy laughed. “I’m happy for you, girl. No surprise you’d find someone else so fast.”

“It’s not like that, Peggy. I’m not trying to replace Ron. I’m just trying to figure out who I really am without him. You should come visit. It would do you good.”

“Oh, you know me. I’m a city girl, through and through. I like it right here close to the action, but enough about me. Is the separation official?”

“Yes. I can hardly believe it.” Katy clapped her hands. “How’s yours going?”

“Well,” Peggy paused. “Tucker moved back in.”

Katy’s jaw almost dropped. “What?”

“I’m going to give him another chance.”

“Oh.” Lordy. What do you say to that? It was the last thing she expected to hear. What happened to making him pay for it the rest of his life?

“We’re going to go to some counseling. He’s working on himself. He’s so outgoing, it’s hard to realize that his confidence was suffering, but he promises it will never happen again.”

Katy reached out and held Peggy’s hand. “Is that what you want?”

“It is. I think it will work out this time.”

“Well, then I hope it does.”

“Tell me about you. How’s it going in that little town? What was it called again?”

“Boot Creek. Oh, and the inn where I’m staying belongs to the sister-in-law of that country singer Dillon Laumann. You know who I’m talking about, right?”

“Yes.” Peggy started singing one of his hits.

“Yes. That one!” Katy hummed along. “His sister-in-law, Naomi, is such a darling. Her inn is right on a creek. So peaceful. I never thought I’d enjoy the whole back-to-nature thing, but it’s been a good place to tune out the old noise and get my head on straight.”

“I’m so glad for you, Katherine. It sounds like things are going to work out perfectly for both of us.”

Katy couldn’t imagine Tucker could change that much. And with that in mind, it was hard to even have small talk. Besides now that she had those separation papers in hand, she had every intention of going back and clearing everything up with Derek. It was long overdue, but at least now she could completely let go of the past.

She looked at her watch. “Gosh, I’ve got to get on the road or I’ll hit all the traffic heading back.” She hugged Peggy. “I’m so happy for you. Keep me posted on how it’s going, okay?” Only she knew that she’d probably never hear from Peggy again.

Peggy wouldn’t want the reminder of the other path.

Chapter Twenty-One

Derek stopped by Angie’s house on his way home. She was sitting on her front porch, still wearing her waitress uniform, watching Billy play kickball in the yard with some friends.

He parked along the curb and walked up to the house. “Hey, girl.” Derek sat down next to her on the stoop.

Angie leaned her elbows on her knees. “I got a call from the garage. They finally figured out what was wrong with my car and it’s to the tune of five hundred dollars.”

“Need a loan?”

“Real funny.” Her lips pursed.

“What?”

“I know that was you who left that envelope on the counter. You know I won’t borrow money from you, Derek. Is that why you’ve been scarce lately?” She dug into the pocket of her apron and handed him the envelope.

He looked inside. A stack of twenties. “I didn’t do this.”

“Stop.”

“No. I didn’t. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t.”

“Well, then who . . .” A look of realization crept across Angie’s face.

“What?”

“I found this right after Katy left the other day. Do you think she did this?”

“Maybe. I don’t know, but it’s good timing. Maybe it was just a happy customer. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but do let me know if you need me to watch Billy for you.”

“That would be great. So much is going on, it’s a little overwhelming.” Angie laid her head on Derek’s shoulder. “How long have we been friends?”

“Forever. You were the first girl I kissed.”

“In first grade. A girl never forgets her first love, and man, I’ve been so proud of you. You’ve done big stuff, man. Thanks for talking to Kelly Jo the way you did. I know it wasn’t easy for you, and I know it’s tough on Todd. On her too, but there is some joy in them being together. You did the right thing.”

“It wasn’t easy, but she shared some things with me that were eye-opening too.”

Angie reached for his hand. “I’m sorry this is still so hard for you, but Derek,” her hefty sigh seemed endless, and then her voice softened, “it’s been eating you alive for two years now. You have to move on. You have to forgive yourself one day. I think your meeting Katy has been a good step for that.”

He couldn’t disagree.

After Billy went to work on his homework, Derek and Angie talked on the porch. It was close to eight by the time he left.

He drove over to the inn hoping he might catch Katy there.

When he walked in, he was delighted to see Katy standing there talking to Naomi.

She looked beautiful in a black dress and heels. And happy. Her smile absolutely radiated.

“How’re you doing?”

Derek smiled at Katy. Her caring way endeared her. “Want to go walk down by the creek with me?”

“Sure.” She waved to Naomi, not even hiding her grin. “Let me change into jeans and tennis shoes real quick.”

“I’ll wait for you on the porch.”

“Okay.”

A few minutes later she rushed outside wearing a faded pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt. She had her shoes and socks in her hand. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.” He took her hand and they walked down to the water.

She dipped her foot into the water. “It’s amazing to me how cold this water can be when the air is so hot. It’s not that deep. You’d think it would be like bathwater.”

He steered toward the dock. They stepped over a thin cable meant to keep people off of it. “It’s sturdy.”

She followed him and they sat on the edge with their feet dangling.

“I like spending time with you, Katy.”

“Derek, I need to tell you something.”

“Sure. Anything.”

Anything? He might not really feel that way when he heard what she had to say. Her throat felt dry. “I tried to tell you before, but the situation just never seemed right, and then when you asked me about selling my car and if I needed money, I should have told you then.”

“Do you need a loan?”

“No. I’m good.” She pulled her hands into her lap and picked at the polish on her thumbnail. “That car was paid for. I had a really high-paying job. I bought it with my bonus. Technically, I still have that job. I’m on a leave of absence.”

“So, you’re trying to tell me you’ll have to go back.”

“No, I’m trying to tell you something else.” She dropped her head back. “This is not easy. You see, I never even wanted to buy that car in the first place. I’m not that kind of gal. I like nice things, sure, but that whole status symbol thing, it just isn’t so important.”

“Okay.”

“I didn’t pick it out. I don’t know how to explain this.” She closed her eyes. “This is harder than I thought.”

“It’s just a car, Katy.”

“I know that, but it’s not just about the car, but everything it stands for.”

“You don’t owe me any explanations about your car. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

“No. It’s good you did. I need to do this.”

“Is this going somewhere?” he asked.

She looked up and their eyes locked. “My husband picked out that car.”

“Your—?” Where the heck did that come from?

Her breathing became heavier and her voice lowered. “My husband.”

She absently stroked her ring finger. She’s married? What do you even say after that kind of news?

“I left him. He’d cheated on me.”

“Okay. So, you’re divorced.” That was a whole different story. A better one.

“No. Not divorced. But I will be. Actually, we just signed separation papers in Atlanta.”

“You mean ‘just,’ like today?”

“Yes. Today. I told you this is all so complicated.”

His mind reeled. “How long has this been going on?”

“I saw him.” She took in a breath. “With her. The day before the Blackberry Festival.”

“Two weeks ago?”

Her gaze pleaded. She shifted in the seat, moving toward him. Tears welled in her eyes. “I know. I should have told you. I’m so sorry.”

What could he say?

“It’s over. When I saw Ron with her I thought I was going to die right there on the spot. I wasn’t sure what to do, and then I left town and I ended up here. He didn’t even realize I was gone until Monday.”

“My God, Katy.” He lowered his gaze. “You’re married?”

“I’m getting divorced.”

“You just up and left. Without a word?”

Tears fell down her cheeks, but this wasn’t something he had the least bit of interest in being in the middle of. “I saw him. I left him a message . . . and . . .”

“Oh man. I never expected this. Not in a million years. There’s a lot more to marriage than that.”

She straightened. “Don’t tell me that. Tell him! I have always been faithful.”

“You don’t just leave.” He looked at her like she was crazy. “When the going gets tough, and it will, believe me no marriage is so perfect they never have a problem . . . but you work it out. Together.”

“But this was—”

“No.” He raised his hand to stop her from saying anything else. “I trusted you. Do you have any idea what it meant for me to open up to someone again? Shit.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“You got all bent out of shape because I was a doctor and didn’t mention it, but you had a husband at home who didn’t even know where you were?”

“I know. It sounds horrible.”

“Yeah. It does.” He blew out a breath and scrubbed his hand across his chin. “It is.”

“The separation papers are signed. I was leaving him before I met you, and then I met you and you made me feel so . . .”

“What? You thought a one-night stand would be a good way to get back at him? Thanks a lot.”

“It wasn’t like that. I promise you.” She clutched her hands to her face. “Please. You have to understand.”

He got up and walked back to his truck, then started it and spun tires down the lane.

Katy watched him leave. Watched all she’d hoped was good news turn into her being as bad as Ron. A liar. A cheater.

Naomi came running to the front porch. “What was that? Is everything okay?”

Katy was crying so hard she couldn’t even answer.

“What’s the matter, Katy? What did he do?” The old woman looked like she was ready to grab the heaviest cast-iron pan in the kitchen and go to war.

“No. He didn’t do anything. It’s me. I messed up.” There was no way she could tell Naomi. She’d be as upset as Derek. “Excuse me,” she said and went straight to her bedroom, leaving a wide-eyed Naomi standing there with her mouth dropped wide open.

I have to find a way to make it up to him. Will he ever forgive me?

She hung the
D
O
N
OT
D
ISTURB
sign over the handle and closed the door behind her.

Pacing the room, she fielded conflicting thoughts—m
ore anger at Ron
, which she knew was misdirected, but had he never done what he’d done, then all of these dominoes would have never been lined up, or toppled over.

Derek had trusted her. He’d put himself out there, vulnerable and barely prepared for a perfect run, much less one that was going to create chaos in his life.

Was there something there? Something real? Or were they just two broken hearts finding temporary comfort? She had baggage. A lot of it, and it didn’t matter if your baggage was being dragged behind you in designer-labeled bags or trash bags—when you got right down to it, baggage was baggage.