Page 59 of Easy On Me

I crumpled, all my dreams deflating. She was ruining everything. “No.”

“Okay.” He had a no-nonsense voice, but the dry tone held a gentle note, too. Something about that blend made my eyes prickle. “Georgia is a no-fault state, so you don’t have to cite a reason. But what I’m hearing is that the marriage isn’t the problem. She is.”

Anger flashed through me, singeing my nerve endings. “She’s an awful person.”

“She acts like it, I know.” When I cast a startled glance at Maggie, he lifted a hand. “Small town and her sister works for me.”

I squinted at him. “Is that why you won’t help me?”

He held his index finger aloft, a little bit of chiding in the gesture. The move rang genuine, though, not condescending like too many school principals I’d encountered who wanted to silence me with a raised finger. “I never said I wouldn’t help you. But it’s my job to help you explore all your avenues. Divorce can be a knee jerk for a lot of situations. It might be your ultimate solution, but we want to make sure.”

A beat passed.

“Have you and Jase talked about what happens after your baby is born?”

I moistened suddenly dry lips. “No.”

“Does he want a divorce?”

Every muscle I had turned to stone. “He doesn’t know I’m thinking about it. I left when he told me about . . . about her.”

“Okay. So here’s my suggestion.” Sympathy flashed over his face before he clasped his hands on the blotter and steepled his fingers. He had strong hands, like Jase, but without a callus in sight. “I’m going to put you on my client list. That means Jase can’t come to me as a client. He’d have to get his own lawyer.”

“All right.”

“Wait for the rest of it.” He gave me a smile I suppose was meant to be reassuring. Nothing reassured me right now, though. “Talk to Jase. He’s had a couple of days, like you have, for the information to start to settle.”

With me eyeing him askance, a pause hung in the room.

“Discuss how you both feel about continuing the marriage, how parenting your baby looks, what you both want.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “After that, you still want a divorce? Come back and talk to me. And here’s a little free advice—go back to the marital home. I don’t care if you sleep in another bedroom, but if we do end up before a judge, I’d like for you to have been in the house before that. Do you have questions for me?”

“Can I keep her from my baby?” More than anything, I needed that. She could not be near him. He had to be safe, sheltered, secure.

“Absolutely. Don’t think you’ll need me for that, though. I’ve known Jase a long time, and he’s like his grandaddy when his mind’s made up. You and him get on the same page about her not having access to your child—and I can’t see why she would because he can coparent their child without involving yours—he’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”

I flinched. Their child.

“I’m sorry you’re navigating this.” He snagged a business card from the silver tray on his desk and scrawled on the back. “This is my personal number. Text or call me if you think of anything.”

“Thank you.” Maggie smiled, a grim little expression that wasn’t her normal at all, as I leaned forward to take the card and examine it. Relief in her voice, she squeezed my arm. “We appreciate your help.”

He pushed up from his chair. “I’ll walk out with you.”

I sat a moment, staring at the card. I’m sure he meant to be helpful, but really all I had was an assurance that I didn’t have to let her near my baby.

But go back to the house?

Get on the same page as Jase?

We’d been there, before her. I’d trusted him, when it was easy between us.

Trust him now, with her influence pushing in, threatening?

I didn’t know how to do that.

My resolve hardened while Maggie walked with me to my car and hugged me before I slid behind the wheel. I’d take his advice, go back to the house – not home now, not anymore – so my baby’s interests would be secure. I ignored the little voice insisting in a whisper that Jase would secure him, no matter what.

Back at work, I went through the motions, answering phones, connecting customers to sales people and the service department. And I hardened my heart, taking all the soft feelings I’d developed for Jase and locking them away. I knew how this worked. When life got tough, I couldn’t afford to be anything but hard.