That Man of Mine (Whispering Bay Romance 3)

How the status of Mimi’s marriage was any fault of her mother’s, Mimi didn’t know, nor was she about to ask. “I thought you’d be thrilled.”

“Thrilled that my thirty-five-year-old daughter is getting a divorce?”

“We’re not getting a divorce. And you’ve never liked Zeke, so where is this coming from?”

“That’s not true. I happen to like Zeke very much.”

Since when? “Momma, I had my first city council meeting this afternoon and I’m mentally exhausted. Can we have this conversation later?”

“Where is he staying?”

“Who? Zeke?”

“No, the mailman. Of course Zeke.”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Your husband is off somewhere at night and you have no idea?”

“I think he’s sleeping at his office,” she admitted.

“Listen to me very clearly, Mary Margaret. Your husband of eighteen years and you are separated. Women are going to start—did he cheat on you? Is that why you’re getting a divorce?”

“No one cheated on anyone, Momma. And we’re not getting a divorce.”

“If you’re not getting a divorce, then why are you separated? And how can you be so sure he’s not cheating on you?”

“Because I just can, that’s why.”

“When was the last time the two of you had…relations?” This last part was said in a deadly sounding whisper. Mimi wanted to tell her mother that it was none of her business, but she’d never be satisfied until she got an answer.

“We had relations this afternoon.”

“Oh. Well…surely that must mean something.”

“I also had relations with the entire city council, too.” Mimi paused for dramatic effect. “Wait a minute. Do you mean, sex?’

Her mother snorted. “You know perfectly well that’s what I mean. Honestly, Mary, your sense of humor is so…warped. I sincerely hope your children aren’t within hearing distance of this conversation.”

“Nope,” Mimi said, although to be honest, she really couldn’t be sure. “Look, Momma, I really need to go. I’m sorry you had to hear the news from someone else. I’d planned to tell you and Daddy myself, but, well… things happen. I’ll call you later.” Before her mother could get another word in, Mimi hung up the phone.

What a mess. How had this happened?

Zeke wasn’t happy about their time out. So why had he blurted it at the city council meeting for everyone to hear? It wasn’t like him to be so…spontaneous. Maybe he’d gotten rattled when he’d noticed she’d taken off her wedding band. Or…maybe in the past week he’d gotten used to the idea. Maybe he actually wanted the separation.

She turned around to find Cameron standing in front of her. “So, Claire wasn’t lying? You and dad are getting a divorce?” His clear brown eyes looked suspiciously moist.

Mimi felt as if the earth had swallowed her whole. Damn Zeke Grant and double damn Denise Holbert for blabbing it all over town. She should have anticipated this. She’d read all the books. Talked to the marriage counselor about the best way to approach the kids. She lived in Whispering Bay, where everyone knew everything about everyone else. Why hadn’t she seen this coming?

“I’m sorry, baby,” she said softly, “Dad and I wanted to tell you ourselves. But you’re jumping the gun here. Your dad and I aren’t getting a divorce. We just need some time to ourselves for a while to figure things out.”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

She waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t. He sat at the kitchen table and opened up a book and began to do his homework. As if finding out your parents weren’t living together was the most natural thing in the world.

She ordered their pizza and put together a quick salad. Hopefully, someone in the house was hungry, because she sure wasn’t.

“How’s soccer practice going?” she asked, fishing around for something to say.