Fulfillment(13)

“She’s been busy packing our house up into this car,” Nate interjected, looking at the lamp shade that was poking over the back seat.

“Right. Where are you?” His tone seemed softer and somewhat concerned.

“I’m about ten minutes away,” I answered. “I’ll see you shortly.”

“Okay, Hunny. But pull over if your headache gets any worse, and I’ll send someone to come get you.”

He hung up.

I put my hand to the bridge of my nose and sighed. “Charli, I’m sorry for snapping. Mummy’s head is killing her.” I looked in the rear-view mirror and smiled apologetically.

“Well, you should tell it to stop killing you.” She rolled her eyes, as if that was simply the cure to a headache.

“Duly noted, Sweetheart.”

***

I pulled into the basement carpark where Bryce was standing, waiting for us. He eyed the visible contents of my car as I stepped out and closed the door.

Charlotte ran up to him and hugged his waist.

“Hi, Charli. How was school?”

“Good. I start swimming lessons tomorrow. Do you want to come and watch?”

He looked slightly shocked at her invitation. “Sure. I’d love to come,” he smiled. Charli looked over at me then motioned for Bryce to lean down so that she could whisper in his ear. Whatever she had said to him provoked a smile to appear on his face, piquing my curiosity.

He winked at her then spoke to Nate. “Mate, can you take Charli up to the apartment? I need to speak to your Mum in private for a minute.”

Nate nodded, and both the kids stepped into the elevator.

When the doors closed, I wasted no time in questioning him. “What did Charli say to you?”

“She told me to make sure your headache didn’t kill you because she loves you, and if it tried, could I please kill it first.” He raised his eyebrows at me, and I smiled guiltily. “Are you feeling okay? How bad is your headache? Do I need to kill it?”

I smiled and scoffed. “It’s just a small one. I’m fine.” I lied. I didn’t want him hauling me over his shoulder, bundling me into the Crow and flying me to the nearest hospital.

I turned around and opened up the tailgate to my car. Three bags and my couch cushions tumbled out onto the ground. “Shit.”

“What’s all this?” Bryce asked dubiously, obviously sensing my fragile state.

“My stuff,” I hissed ever so slightly.

“Hunny, there’s a vacuum cleaner in there.” He leaned in and pulled it out.

I could hear a very small hint of amusement in his voice, which helped snap me out of my ridiculously angry mood. “I know. It’s my Dyson. It’s a good vacuum.”

“So I’ve heard...but...we have house-keeping. So...you...don’t...really need it.”

I turned around to find him cautiously smiling at me. “I know,” I conceded “I just didn’t want her to touch it. These things are mine. I worked for them, I chose them, I used them; they are mine, not hers.”

“Hers?”

“Claire’s. She was at the house when I showed up. She was wearing my dress and had just taken a shower. I got angry and went a little crazy.”

“Oh,” he smiled, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m not angry at her for being there with Rick. Really, it’s not that at all, they can have each other, I honestly couldn’t care less. It’s just...I don’t know...those things were mine, are mine, and...and...she can get her fucking own. Anyway, I’ve decided I need to see my solicitor. I’m going to make Rick pay me out for the house—.”

“You don’t need to worry about money, Alexis. What’s mine is yours.”

“It’s not about the money, Bryce. I know you want to share what you have with me, and I will let you do that eventually. It may take me some time to get used to, but with that time, I’m sure I will get used to it. No, this is more about...and I know this is petty...but,” I sighed and slumped into his chest. “It’s just...he doesn’t deserve to get everything we both worked for all our life. It’s a matter of principle.” I blurted out, shrugging out of his grip to pick up my cushions. I brushed them down. “Some of this stuff is special and stupidly sentimental, and yes...some of it is obviously just downright stupid, I get that. But what I want to do—what I need to do— is see my lawyer and change my will, divide our assets and put final closure on Rick’s and my life together.

“I know we have to wait a year before we can get a divorce, but finalising these things first will help give some form of separation and maybe help me deal with it all a little better. I have been civil to him, and I have been pleasant. But it is getting increasingly hard to keep that shit up.” I closed my eyes, willing the throbbing in my head to dissipate. “If it weren’t for the kids, Bryce, I would have unleashed hell upon him. I think I just need the formality of separation from Rick as his wife. Maybe that will help with my building anger.”