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Chapter Eighteen
Kathryn
“I have news,” I tell him as I lean over the table for four at the small café in the heart of downtown Rockland Falls.
“Tell me,” he says, leaning forward and mirroring my position.
“I heard from my attorney a little bit ago. The papers were signed by the judge,” I tell him, referring to the divorce papers, feeling victorious and free.
His smile spreading wide across his handsome face. “That’s great news, Kate. I’m so happy you’re rid of Charles Dunnington III.” The way he says his name, with a rich, entitled accent, has me giggling.
“The fully executed papers are supposed to be delivered early next week, even though it’s been official for a while now. I can’t believe it. I’m finally free.”
Jensen wraps his big, warm hands around mine and gives them a squeeze. “Thank God,” he says with a wink.
“He’s not contesting anything anymore, but I’m pretty sure he’s making out like a bandit,” I tell, taking a sip of my iced tea.
“What do you mean?” Jensen asks, glancing over to where his son sits in the booth next to me. Max is busy coloring a picture for my refrigerator on the back of the paper placemat.
I shrug. “He’s getting a shit-ton of money in a one-time alimony payment,” I confirm in a whisper. “Plus, I sold him my portion of my father’s business.”
“Wait, doesn’t he come from money? With a stuffy name like Dunnington III, you’d think he has enough Benjamins to keep him warm and cozy.”
“Oh, he does,” I verify. “His family is old money in stock and bonds in New York. Their son went into real estate, though, and started at my dad’s firm years ago, right out of college. He worked his way up the ladder, and while I don’t want to take away from his achievements in closing many sales, he was Daddy’s biggest suck-ass. He did anything and everything he could to get a leg up in the business.”
“Including marry his boss’s only daughter.”
I shrug. I don’t really want to get into the reasons why I married Charles. It’s in my past, where I’d like it to stay. “I gave him whatever he wanted just to make him go away. I was ready to move on with my life, and frankly, the money means nothing to me. I have more than enough. Anyway, he owns fifty-one percent now and my mom owns the other forty-nine.”
His eyes bore into me. “I bet that didn’t make her very happy.”
Again, I shrug. “No, it didn’t. At the reading of the will, she became a tad bit distraught when she learned I was left majority percentage in his company and she was left only forty-nine. That meant she still was set for life, financially, but she didn’t have the control over me. I think that’s what upset her the most. Well, that and the fact I was left the Rockland Falls house. She was awarded all of his New York properties, minus the two-floor penthouse where the real estate company was housed. The moment I heard I received this place, I knew I was coming home.”
Jensen smiles when I say the word home. In fact, it feels phenomenal. I haven’t felt at home since I left Rockland Falls. “And I’m damn glad you did,” he says, taking my hand from across the table.
“Kate, look! I made you a turtle playing baseball,” Max joyfully exclaims, holding up his placemat so I can see his drawing.
“That’s amazing, Maximiliano,” I boost, which has the exact results I was hoping for. His young giggles bring a smile to my face, matching those worn by the four-year-old and his father.
“It’s just Max, silly!”
“Well, Just Max, I’m going to hang this on my refrigerator when I get home, okay?”
“And I can come see it, right?”
“Of course you can,” I confirm, ruffling the hair on top of his head.
“Mommy says I’m not supposed to go to your house, but I like going dare. Daddy, can I still go dare?” he asks, his big, innocent eyes full of hope and worry.
Jensen exhales. “Of course you can, Buddy. We’re not going to stop visiting Kate, okay?”
Max seems pleased to hear that and quickly returns his attention back to his coloring. When I glance across the table, I can see the annoyance written all over Jensen’s face. “Everything okay?”
He sighs and whispers, “Earlier this week, she gave me the song and dance about bringing women in and out of his life. I knew immediately what she was getting at, or who she was referring to.”
“Me,” I deduce.
Jensen barely nods his head. “Anyway, she thinks it’s best not to introduce our ‘dates’ to our son, which I wholeheartedly agree. However, I don’t look at you as just a date.”
