Page 107 of The Moment You Know

Ignoring her words and hate-filled expression, David forged ahead. “I’ll cover the rent and all the utilities here for another month, which will give you time to find a new place,” he told her. He knew there wasn’t a chance in hell she could pay the rent on their house going forward, nor would maintaining one be something she’d be willing, or able, to do. “You can take any furniture you want, including Jacob’s bedroom set, so you don’t have to buy anything. You can also have anything from the kitchen—pots, pans, plates, whatever.

“I’ll be moving into the loft above the studio, and Jacob will stay with me until you find a new place. His visits can start after you get settled.”

He waited for her to acknowledge all that, before continuing. “One last thing. You’ll also have to find a new job, because as of today, you’re not working with me anymore.”

She looked like she wanted to throw a chair at him. “I have to find a new place and a new job? Thanks, asshole.”

“Did you really think we were going to keep working together after everything that’s happened?”

She gave him a dirty look and then said, “I hadn’t gotten that far, to be honest. I did just get told that I have to find a new place to live, after all.”

She sounded like a petulant child and he’d never wanted to get away from anyone so badly in his life. “I think Dick’s brother, Everett, is still a licensed lawyer, so I’ll see if he can draw up our modified custody agreement. And just so you know, part of the agreement is going to be that you can’t have a babysitter watch Jacob when he stays with you. The entire conversation we had about babysitters only applied to true joint custody, when you’d have Jacob half the time. It won’t apply with you only having him eight days a month. You said you needed more time with him and I expect you to spend that time with him. If I find out you’re not, we’re going to have a problem. That being said, if something legitimately comes up that interferes with his visit, then I’ll watch him. Understand? He doesn’t get watched by a babysitter when he’s staying with you.”

Curtly, she nodded.

“Then I guess we’re done here,” David said, getting to his feet. He went to grab a beer and a glass, then, because he was suddenly feeling rather hungry, the pizza box. Hands full, he left the kitchen without a backward glance.

He had a long night ahead of him. And he was actually looking forward to it.

Chapter 41

First thing in the morning, David rented a small U-Haul truck and when he returned to the house, it was to find Evan just arriving. Along with bringing the boxes, he’d gone the extra mile and also had tape and moving blankets, cementing his best friend status.

They worked for several hours, boxing up all of David’s things, and with the exception of asking where Ashley was, Evan didn’t ask any other questions.

“She spent the night at Carrie’s place,” David told him.

At noon, Ashley came home looking hungover and for the next several hours, she and David exchanged only a few words as they divided up the household goods and furniture. Since she didn’t know how much space she’d have in her new place, she only ended up with Jacob’s furniture, the couch, the TV, and some kitchen items. Everything she didn’t want, including the master bedroom furniture, got loaded into the truck.

It didn’t thrill Evan, but David was pretty happy, since he wouldn’t be sleeping on the floor that night. Or have to buy a new bed.

When David and Evan were finally done packing and loading, it was almost dinnertime and David did one last sweep of the house before leaving.

Ashley was sitting on the couch in the now almost bare living room. She actually looked a little upset at his imminent departure, but he figured she was more upset at being on her own than anything else. As for him, he felt oddly at peace and content, considering he was ending a lengthy relationship. It struck him that it was a far cry from when he’d left Paige and he’d been decimated.

“As soon as Everett gets our agreement drawn up,” he told her, “I’ll let you know so we can go over it together and then sign it.”

She didn’t even look at him. “Fine.”

“I’ll see you Monday morning when you come to clean out your desk. Oh, and Ash?”

“What?”

“Along with your final paycheck, I’m going to give you a month’s severance pay.”

“Thanks,” she said and even though it came out only mildly sincerely, he was okay with that.

“I’ll be in touch.”

She nodded, still not looking at him, then grabbed the remote to turn on the TV.

“I’m so glad that’s over,” Evan commented a few minutes later as he and David walked down to the packed truck.

“Me, too.”

Evan followed David to his photography studio, where they unloaded everything, making multiple trips upstairs to the second floor loft. They put a few things away, like the bedroom set, but everything else was left in the living room for David to deal with later.

Exhausted and hungry, they went to get dinner and a few beers at a restaurant down the street.

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