Page 93 of First Date: Divorce
From behind Melody, he gave K.D.a warning look.“That again.A career.Not that your salary from the library ever added much.Staying home with the kids wouldn’t lose much — if we had kids.”
Even with most of her attention on Eric, K.D.was aware of a new energy in Melody.Like a batter who’d spotted a big, fat pitch coming toward her, knowing she could knock this one out of the ballpark.
“Eric, let’s talk about expectations, and the compromises needed for a couple to accommodate each other’s expectations.Why don’t you sit down?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
They walked toward town without talking.Not needing to confer to get to Jessa’s store.
“Thanks,” she said as they left the main path.
“For?”He looked over at her.
“The save.Career.You got me out of that corner.”
He shook his head.“I screwed up by putting you in that corner.Sorry.”He smiled slightly.“I suspect you’ve gotten a few blows thrown at you in those sessions left over from my ex.”
They walked a couple minutes.
“Maybe you’ve gotten some that belong to my mom.Not blows.Frustrations.”She considered that.“And maybe some — blows or frustrations or both — that should be aimed at myself.”
His raised eyebrows invited her to continue.She didn’t accept the invitation.
They were almost to Jessa’s.
No time to get into it now, even if she knew what she’d say.
*
K.D.had her hand on the office door when it started to swing open.She retreated, turning her foot slightly, causing a sideways lurch.Eric clasped her hand, drawing her back from the door and steadying her at the same time.
Jessa emerged.“C’mon in.I saw you on the security system, but Ellyn and I were watching the video and I was slow coming to meet you.Cully should be here any second.”
Grinning, Ellyn turned the screen toward them.
Music started.The Wedding March.
A young woman who could only be a bride.Sure, the dress and veil gave it away, but so did the glow.
Her.
The video of her wedding to Eric.
No.It wasn’t real.
She met Eric’s eyes for an instant, then turned away, taking a chair without a view of the video.
Talking over the music, she said, “Jessa, we need bags to take back so it will look like we’ve been shopping.Can you—?”
“Absolutely.”
The store owner stood as Cully entered.He kissed her temple in passing.“Any leftovers?”
“Are you here for food or information, Grainger?”Eric asked as Jessa waved and closed the door behind her.
“Both.”He handed their phones to them, adding to Eric, “Before I forget, here’s a message for you from Pauline about her return time Wednesday morning.It’ll be worth my life if I can’t swear I delivered it.You’re my witness, K.D.So, here’s my update.
“First, the money you saw on their records, Eric, looks like the rental payment on their old building in Oregon.I got with the county guy who went over their books both for the original lease and when they applied for long-term.Same weird figure showed up.
