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5
Saona
It’s only eleven in the morning and I’m already exhausted. I’m running on less than two-hours sleep and still have plenty of items to go on my to-do list. I passed out after Jax left. He turned my bones into jelly and my belly still flutters with the memories of that skillful tongue. I checked out of the hotel at six-forty in the morning and got in the Uber to the train station in Baltimore. I made it to my seat at six-fifty-nine.
My sister, who’s been playing chauffeur all morning, finds a parking spot in front of my apartment building and maneuvers into it. “I’m coming in with you.”
I hesitate. It’s not a good idea. David is petulant and can fly off the handle like a maniac. My sister has no tolerance for that. God only knows I don’t need the drama with my soon-to-be ex-husband to escalate but I’m not naive. I’m not in the mood for a screaming match. I just want him to leave.
“I’m bringing my taser.” Sierra steps out of the car and closes the door.
“You watch too many murder shows.” I tease her.
He made it clear last night he wasn’t leaving the apartment. I’m not relishing the idea of being the one to leave, but I’m more than willing to do what’s necessary for my sanity. “I spoke to my coworker, who has an apartment available in one of his rentals. It’s mine if I need it and I can move in today.”
I like to believe in human decency but am prepared for bullshit.
“Are you ready for this?” Sierra is chewing on her corner lip, a sign of worry, and takes one corner of the elevator when we get in.
“Not really but I need to get him out of my immediate space. Carina sent her assistant to file the divorce paperwork to City Hall. He will probably try to contest it, but we have proof of adultery.”
I say the word so easy, like a fancy delicacy or something I can do without. Like it doesn’t gall me that it means that I’ve been a fool for years.
“What about all the stuff you own together?”
My chest constricts. I’d kept a secret from my sister and my mom since I’d gotten married. I didn’t want them to think badly of David and his family. I swallow. There’s no longer a point in keeping something they’d find out about anyway. David doesn’t deserve my protection. “We had a prenup.”
Sierra’s eyes round almost comically and she shakes her head. “He made you sign a prenup? What the fuck— No, I’m not going to react. Spill it quick, the elevator is almost here.”
I sigh and vomit the secret. “His mother insisted we have a prenup. They had that land in Santiago his father left them and supposedly her lawyer pressed them to protect the whole family.”
My sister’s mouth drops and her hands fist. “That old bitch…wait a minute. Didn’t they find out the father had like ten other kids scattered around after you got married?” She barely finishes the sentence and is already laughing.
“Fifteen kids and it was a month later.” I press my lips together. As it turns out, all those new siblings also had rights to the land. When they sold it, what David had gotten was barely enough to cover the trip to the Dominican Republic to settle the sale. He had to turn around and ask me for money.
“Why would you not tell me?”
Her voice yanks me back to the present. “I was mortified. It was the day before the wedding and if I had told you and Mom, it would have turned into an all-out war.”
“Fuck, yeah.” Her hand wraps around my wrist. “Don’t feel bad about anything or try to be good in this divorce. These people tried to fuck you over. His mom was in on the lie about that bitch in their hometown. I got it out of Edwin last night. So, when she fucking calls you with thatmamita, sweetie bullshit, tell her to go put a plantain up her—”
The elevator door flies open and David is waiting for me in front of it. He’s wearing slacks, a button-down shirt, and the watch I gave him for his birthday. Not a messy inch in his six-foot-tall frame. I was always so proud to be on his arm. It was a farce. It always felt like one. I just let myself get confused by the visual.
“You’re home.”
I stroll past him, down the hall and into the apartment with my sister tailing close behind. “When are you leaving?”
I don’t bother looking at him, but my sister is eye-stabbing him from where she stands.
“I told you I’m not going anywhere, Saona. Give that shit up.”
“I filed for divorce already. The rent and bills are in my name. I’m not going to keep paying them for someone who doesn’t respect me. Please go, unless you’re ready to foot those bills on your own.”
“I’m not going anywhere. This is my place too. We got all this together.”
My sister is staying quiet but she’s playing nervously with her hand like she used to before she sucker-punched someone in high school. This could get nasty real fast and I don’t want her involved.
“Fine, David. You can stay. I’ll be the one to leave.” I stroll into the bedroom, wait until Sierra gets in, and slam the door and lock it.
