“I don’t know any lawyers except Georgia’s husband Dean! And I sure as hell don’t want that bastard representing me against Jason! Not when he’s already hired Kitty’s husband, Chase.”
“Oh I definitely don’t think Dean would be on your side. But my guy is a lot better. Alex calls him the meanest son of a bitch to ever pass the bar exam.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah, and Alex has been the cause of so many divorces, I figure he’s got to know what he’s talking about.”
“I hope so. I don’t know what I’ll do without a house. I might have to get a job!”
“Nothing so drastic, I’m sure,” Jessa said, suppressing a laugh. “Here, talk to him.”
Jessa shoved the phone into Anne’s hand and stood up to give her a little privacy. Not that Jessa would’ve been able to understand a word of the garbled account of events that Anne was blubbering into the phone. Terry must’ve understood desperate woman speech because Anne didn’t seem to be repeating herself. No doubt, he dealt with so many crying females, he’d had to become fluent.
Jessa wandered idly about the living room. It hadn’t been all that long since she’d stood in this room with her own husband of nineteen years while her marriage crumbled to pieces on the pristine oak floor. Only four weeks. Yet her perspective had aged years.
Had it really aged? Sometimes it felt as if the clock were running backwards. Some might say she was acting like an immature college student. Perhaps she was. Perhaps she wasn’t. In the beginning, it had seemed that way. She’d exchanged her hard won self-control for a heady willingness to embrace anything new. Was that immaturity?
Jessa didn’t think so. After all, college students screwed everybody they met on spring break. For Jessa, there was only Connor. What had seemed in the beginning to be reckless abandon had developed into an uncanny trust. Jessa trusted Connor to keep her safe, no matter what new and exciting endeavors life tossed their way.
At the end of it all, wasn’t that what a relationship was supposed to be?
Jessa drifted back to the present when Anne handed the cell phone back. She waited to hear what advice Terry had offered.
“He said to get my ass back to the house and dig in,” Anne said. “Terry says Jason doesn’t have a leg to stand on and that’s why he wanted me to leave the house. That way it would look more like desertion.”
Jessa grimaced. “What an asshole!”
“I’m getting divorced! Can you believe it? After all this time I’ll finally be able to do what I want,” Anne said, face shining through her tears.
“That’s wonderful, honey. I’m happy for you. So don’t you think you should head home?”
Anne shuddered, regaining her composure. “I’ll go in a minute. I have to tell you something I overheard the other day. I’ve been trying to call you, but your number isn’t in service.”
“Will had my account canceled. It doesn’t matter really.” Jessa held up phone in her hand. “This one is Connor’s. He won’t let me leave the bar without it.”
“You’re lucky, Jessa,” Anne mused. “Although I must admit he seemed a little dangerous the other evening.”
“Don’t even try and tell me you didn’t enjoy watching Kitty get exactly what she deserved.”
“Maybe so, but you know Kitty always has the last word.”
A lump formed in Jessa’s stomach.
“Jason and the guys were having drinks in the den and I happened to overhear him and Will talking about you.”
Jessa blinked stupidly. “Did you say Will was at your house the other night?”
“Yes, didn’t you know he was back in town?”
“No!”
“He’s been staying at the club.”
“Is he moving back here?” Jessa demanded.
“I’d guess so. I thought he already had since you’re home for the first time in weeks.”
Adrenaline flooded Jessa’s body. “I’m going to go talk to him.”
“But Jessa, he wants to patch things up. You can’t possibly forgive that rat bastard for everything he’s done.”
“I’ve got no intention of forgiving him.”
“Then why confront him?”
“To tell him it’s over.” Jessa stood up, resolution straightening her spine.
Anne frowned. “You’re going to the club?”
“Sure, my membership is still paid up.”
“But your clothes…”
Anne’s voice died when she saw the intense look on Jessa’s face. Not even Anne was foolish enough to believe that Jessa still cared what anyone at the vaunted country club thought about her anymore.