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She entered the conference room. “Where do I sign?” Theresa asked as she pulled out the chair beside Kathryn and took a seat.
“Here at the bottom.” Kathryn set the legal document in front of Theresa and opened it to the last page. She handed her a pen. “I’ll notarize, sign, and date it, and we’re done.”
Theresa signed and dated on the line above David’s signature, and Sonya’s paralegal pressed her notary stamp to the document, adding her signature and the date.
“Done,” Theresa said, placing both her hands on the table. “I am divorced.”
Kathryn pulled an envelope out of the folder beside her. “Mr. Rhodes asked me to give this to you. I have no idea what it’s about, but rest assured nothing goes in or out of a county jail or a prison without first being checked.”
Her pulse raced, and she sucked in a breath. “They wouldn’t let him send more threats, would they?”
“No. If you’re concerned, you can open it right now. If what he wrote raises any red flags, we’ll see that it’s dealt with.”
She nodded, turned the envelope over and lifted the flap. It hadn’t been sealed. She unfolded the letter which had writing on both sides. Her chest tightened, and so did her throat. She frowned as she read the same sentence written over and over from top to bottom: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry ….
She turned the paper over and found the same thing on the back. “I don’t know what to make of this,” she whispered, holding the letter out for Kathryn to see. Clearly David had gone over the edge, or maybe he was in the throes of drug withdrawal.
“It is strange.” Kathryn nodded. The paralegal stood up and tucked the divorce agreement into the file folder. She picked up her notary stamp and the pen. “Perhaps he’s just now realizing exactly what he’s lost.”
“Maybe.” Theresa refolded the letter—if you could call it a letter—and slid it back into the envelope. Should she toss it into the recycling bin or keep it for a while? Was David apologizing for what he’d done in the past year or so, for being a bullying control freak their entire marriage, or for what he planned to do to get back at her in the future? Damn. He’s still keeping me off balance, the hallmark of an abusive person.
“You know what? Just to be on the safe side, make a copy of this to keep in my file.” She handed the envelope to Kathryn again.
“Certainly. This will only take a moment.” Kathryn left her to go make the copy.
Theresa paced around the conference room and fought the urge to call Caleb. She had so much she wanted to talk with him about. Monday. It could wait until Monday. He had a life.
Theresa glanced at her watch. Good thing she’d see her therapist in two and a half hours. Lunch! Wow, she’d forgotten all about lunch. Her sons must be starving. She hadn’t planned her day well at all. She could’ve arranged to drop by her lawyer’s office to sign around the same time as her appointment with her therapist. Signing her divorce papers had felt so urgent to her that she hadn’t taken a moment to think.
Kathryn returned and handed the envelope back to her. “It’s in your file, and I’ll mention it to Sonya. She’ll want to take a look. We’ll deliver a copy of the divorce decree to you once its filed and stamped by the state.”
“Great. Thanks.” Still frowning, she headed for the reception area. “John, take a look at this and tell me what you think.”
He rose from his chair and accepted the envelop from her. “What is it?”
“A letter from my ex-husband. Kind of,” she murmured.
He took out the folded paper and looked at the front and then the back. “Hmph.”
“Should I be worried? Did he send this because he’s planning something?”
John shook his head. “I suspect he’s trying to convince you he’s really … sorry.”
“Yeah. I got that much.” She snorted.
“Don’t overthink the ramblings of a man withdrawing from narcotics and alcohol, Theresa. David is an addict, and he’s obviously going through a breakdown.” He handed the letter back and ushered her to the door. “He’s in jail awaiting trial on two felony charges. These are the maunderings of a man who is panicking. That’s all. Don’t be surprised when he begs you for help, and then all of his I’m sorries will make more sense.”
“Help?” She blinked.
“Yep. In the form of money for a lawyer or begging you to drop the harassment charge. Addicts are like that. No shame. No conscience. No sense of personal responsibility for their own stupidity.” John held the door open for her. “How about we stop at a drive-through for takeout on the way back to your place? I’m hungry.”
“Good idea.” She walked out of the office and pulled her phone from her purse. “I’ll text Elli and let her know so she doesn’t feed Charlie and Jeremy.”
He cut her a serious look. “Take my advice, Theresa. Don’t give David any money, and don’t drop the harassment charge. He got himself into this mess. He needs to deal with the consequences on his own. Otherwise, that kind of behavior becomes habitual. Like a wild animal you feed just once, an addict will keep coming back, begging for more.”
She glanced at him. “How do you know so much about addicts?”
“Lots and lots of experience. I have a sister who’s an addict, which has also turned her into a lying, manipulative thief. I’ve helped her out of so many jams, I’ve lost count.” He shook his head and grunted. “To show her appreciation, she stole my credit card and racked up thousands in debt. She also stole some of my mom’s jewelry. Erin pawned everything she stole from my mom and everything she bought with my credit card. She needed the cash to buy more drugs. I pressed charges and reported the theft to my credit card company. She spent a few months in jail and started right back up where she’d left off the minute she got out.”
