She slid a check across the table this time.
He read, and she helped him along.
“I do not want alimony or support. Just take it all, and we’re done.”
“What if I want alimony?”
“I’ve talked to several lawyers. You cheated. That falls under marital misconduct. I have proof. In addition, I gave up many career opportunities to raise our children, sacrificed my education, and also pulled out of the food truck business to support you and us. I will bring all of this up and get half plus support. It’s a sure thing. Also I’ve got screenshots of you and Bambi Carla.”
“You just got that cottage, that restaurant—you’re hiding money! You’re the liar!”
“Check these, show them to a lawyer, whatever you need.” She pointed to the deeds to the restaurant and the cottage, which were still firmly in Emma and Libby’s names. “I’ve been given nothing but a place to stay for a few days. Sorry, you got the wrong impression on that.”
“That restaurant could be a gold mine.”
“Well, you could do it with me, but just so you know, one in three restaurants fail in the first year. So, you can have half of a hugely risky new business or all of our old house and zero obligation to pay alimony.”
Archie had no easy reply, no sarcastic comment. He looked at the paperwork and back up at Hope. Archie picked up the pen. He signed the settlement and then signed the second agreement.
That second agreement was finely crafted, thanks to Patrick. Hope agreed to give Archie the house, and she also agreed to waive any claim to spousal support. For his part, Archie agreed that he had zero claims to her business, her winnings, her ideas, her recipes, to anything she did moving forward.
Hope was giving up security, what she was legally entitled to in a divorce, to gain complete freedom from any more entanglement.
She knew Archie would take it. He would rather take the quick cash, the get-rich scheme, rather than do what it took to build something long-term. The restaurant was going to be a long game.
She was right.
“This is it?”
“This is it, except you know, maybe if the girls ever get married and have kids, we’ll be at birthday parties or something.” She smiled at Archie. He was why she had two wonderful girls. For a time, it had felt like Archie and Hope against the world.
Archie blinked. He seemed a little stunned. Stunned in the same way he looked when she told him she was pregnant. Things were changing in their lives, big things. Their lives always seemed to take a sharp turn, never a slow curve.
“I am proud of you,” Archie said. Hope felt a lump in her throat where bile had been only a day ago.
“Thank you.”
“And your mom was wrong. You were the prettiest bride I’d ever seen. I didn’t get hitched just because you were knocked up.”
Hope laughed, and with it came a huge relief. The weight came off her shoulders. Her future was clear, even though a few tears now clouded her vision. She hadn’t expected that when she went to make the deal of her life.
She stood up, walked over to his side of the conference table, and then kissed him on the head.
This was done. They were done, but it hadn’t been all bad. Whatever bitterness she’d felt against him melted into the batter.
Her choices weren’t always his fault. Sometimes it was just the way things were.
But now, there were no kids, no husband, no blue pregnancy stick that would change her direction.
She was betting on herself, her food, her dream, and for the first time ever, she felt like the odds were in her favor.
The house, and spousal support? They were a small price to pay to follow the biggest dream of her life.
Quitting was the risk, giving in was the risk, and not trying to make this dream work was the risk. Regret was the risk. One she wasn’t willing to live with.
Hope was ready to make this dream work, with nothing or no one in her way.
ChapterTwenty-Three
