One Hot Fake

“Oh yes,” Alexa says and sits up. She adopts a professional aura. “Mr. Watson asked me to show you right in when you arrived.”

She walks around her desk and knocks lightly on the door leading to the inner office. A muted voice comes from inside, and she opens the door. “You can go in. All the best.” She winks.

I don’t know how much she knows about Leonard’s and my issue, but I hope that attorney’s confidentiality applies to her too. Leonard and Mr. Watson stand up when I enter.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ward,” the balding attorney says.

I ignore his outstretched hand for a moment. “My name is Marian Stevens.” I shake his hand then.

A look of confusion comes over his features. “I’m sorry, but I believe that Mr. Ward here implied that the two of you were back together.”

I swing my gaze to Leonard. “Is that true?”

He smiles.

Nausea rises up my throat. “Don’t tell me this trip is a waste of time. I came here to finalize the divorce. That’s what you implied.”

“Miss Stevens, please keep your voice down and do sit down. I’m sure we can work something out.”

I’m fuming, but I do as he says. I almost feel sorry for him. He runs his finger through the remaining hair on his head and adjusts his glasses. I turn my attention to Leonard. “Start talking.”

“I want us to try again,” Leonard says.

I shake my head. I must be hearing my own things. He cannot be fucking serious. “Try what?” My experience with difficult brides and their families kicks in. My tone is calm but inside, I’m on fire.

“Us, Marian. I want us to try, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll be happy to go along with that motion for judgment nunc pro tunc,” he says.

“No.”

That confuses Leonard as well as Mr. Watson.

I stand up. “The day you want to sign the papers, let me know. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Watson, and I hope the next time we meet will be under more pleasant circumstances.” I march out with Leonard hot on my heels.

“It was nice to see you again, Marian,” Alexa calls after me.

“Likewise,” I throw over my shoulder.

Walking fast in heels is my hidden talent. Leonard has to jog to catch up with me. I unlock the car door, intending to drive off without speaking to him. Instead, Leonard outsmarts me and goes to the passenger side, and before I can step on the gas, he enters the car.

“Get out,” I hiss.

“Please, Marian. Why so much hostility? We meant something to each other once, and I believe we still do. I’m not the same guy, and I know all the mistakes I made with you.”

All fight goes out of me. I’m physically and emotionally exhausted.

“Just come with me to my mom’s and meet Samantha,” Leonard pleads.

“Fine,” I say, and even as the words leave my mouth, I know it’s a mistake. I shouldn’t get involved, but I don’t have the energy to fight with Leonard.

He reads victory in my eyes and starts giving me directions.

“I know where your mother lives,” I say in a dry tone.

Leonard chatters endlessly on the way to his mother’s house. I’ve never seen him as nervous as he is. When we get there, he jumps out of the car and comes around to my side to open the car door. Why couldn’t he have been this gentlemanly when we were married? Despite myself, I’m a little impressed. He does seem to have changed for the better.

I follow him into the house.

“Mom, Samantha, I have a guest,” he calls out from the foyer.

“Coming,” Fiona’s voice calls from the kitchen before she appears, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Marian, is that you?” she says, her face wreathed in smiles. She comes and takes my hands into hers.

Fiona is a good woman but not strong enough to stand up to her son. She kept away during the worst years of our marriage. I never blamed her for her personality. She’s a peace-loving woman, and she’ll do anything, including burying her head in the sand to keep the peace.

“Hi Fiona, it’s lovely to see you,” I say and kiss her cheek.

She flushes with pleasure. She moves to the side to make way for Leonard. In front of him is the cutest, prettiest blonde little girl. She has a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She looks up at me and smiles. My heart melts.

I drop to my knees so that I’m at eye level with her. “Hi, my name is Marian, and you must be the pretty Samantha.”

Her smile widens. “My daddy told me about you. Are you going to be my new mommy?”

It takes everything I have to keep smiling. “Oh, Samantha, you’ll be fine here with your nana and daddy.”