Page 54 of First Date: Divorce
“Nothing nefarious,” the private investigator said.“But you couldn’t report it in theFar Hills Banner.”
“Hey, this isn’t a job fair,” Cully mock grumbled.“Let’s go through this all one last time.”
At the end, he said to both of them, more serious than she’d seen him before, “Don’t push it.Either of you.Getting caught trying to be James Bond ruins our chance to get Gail Bledsoe to contact K.D., which is what we want the most.If we get Bledsoe’s involvement, we can work back from her to her source at Marriage-Save.But we don’t want just the Marriage-Save side.I want Bledsoe.If Marriage-Save picked up and left, she’d still be sitting here, doing bad stuff.”
*
Back at his house, Eric slipped his new phone into the outside pocket of his suitcase.
He didn’t need the wedding photos and video on the phone to remind him of … anything.
“Ready?I’ll take your suitcase downstairs.”Eric called so K.D.would hear him at the other end of the hall.
Where she’d slept these past nights.
Close.
Not nearly close enough.
Maybe he’d been trying to tell himself he didn’t feel that way.Maybe he’d half succeeded in persuading himself.
But watching that video, seeing how he felt—
No.
Not felt.
How he reacted.A male reacting to a female.Basic biology.
Still, there on the screen for all to see.
Including K.D.It had clearly raised her barriers as high as she could get them.
Couldn’t blame her.
On the other hand, everything was about to change.They needed to demonstrate they were a couple on the verge of divorce.That should curb any misguided notions his body might entertain.
“I’m downstairs, Eric.My stuff’s here by the door.”K.D.’s voice floated up to him.
“One time I’m carrying that damned suitcase come hell or high water,” he muttered.
*
From the passenger seat, K.D.turned her head to watch Eric’s house recede from sight.
“Be sure to tell Pauline thank you again for all her help,” she told him.
“You already thanked her before she left for the airport.”
“I want her to know how much I appreciate—”
“She knows.She also appreciates what you’re doing.She’s a true believer in marriage and would like to do Gail Bledsoe bodily harm.”He grinned shortly.“Couldn’t figure out how she could still believe, considering her views on Hilary and our marriage, but I should have known Pauline worked it out to her satisfaction.Her theory likened Hilary to a lemon car.They crop up now and then.Not much you can do but get rid of it.Not reason to stop getting cars, to stop … driving.Only there are no consumer protection regulations regarding a lemon spouse.”
She half snorted.“No, there aren’t, or I’d file a complaint on behalf of my mother.”
“Your father?”
“God, no.He disavowed any participation in my conception.His family backed him.Her family didn’t back her.As close to throwing her out in the snow penniless for bringing shame on their house as it got, even nearly thirty years ago.Although no snow, because they were in Mississippi.An uncle slipped her enough cash to get to Montana and get a job.
