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“This is a mistake.” He waved the papers at the other man. “She signed these weeks ago. She doesn’t want a divorce now.” Things had changed. When she’d looked at him, her eyes had been warm. They’d kissed.
“Alison instructed me to deliver these as soon as she gave birth. I know it doesn’t mean much but I really am sorry, Mr. Harker.” Dan walked away.
CHAPTER 7: Alison
When Alison woke, she was still exhausted and sore, but she felt good. She had a baby. She was a mother. A wave of fear washed through her. She wasn’t ready to be a mother, to care for a child. Her life was a mess. She sat up, expecting to see the man who’d made her life both a disaster and a dream come true, but only her mom was in the room.
“I’m so glad you’re awake. The baby’s hungry.” Mom carried Irene over to her and then handed her a bottle.
“Where’s Harker?” She took her daughter, her fear pushed aside by love. She’d never loved anything like she did this little baby.
“I’m not sure. He dropped off your bag and then left the room.” Mom pointed to Alison’s to-go bag that was on the chair next to her bed. “You’ll have to convince him that family is more important than work.” Mom started straightening the numerous gifts that were on the table across the room. “Oh, a young man was here. He said his name was Dan and that he was a friend from college. He left you these lovely flowers and that darling teddy bear.”
Dread and guilt settled in Alison’s stomach. That was the real reason Harker wasn’t here. Dan had given him the divorce papers. She wanted to curl in a ball and cry. She’d completely forgotten that she’d told Dan to deliver them when she had the baby. She should’ve waited. Telling Harker this soon had been cruel, but she couldn’t change it now.
“I had to do it,” she whispered to her child, kissing Irene’s head. “I love him, but he doesn’t respect me enough to let me make my own choices. I hope you understand one day.” She kissed the baby again. Poor kid. Her parents had really messed everything up for her. “It’ll be okay. I promise.” But she wasn’t sure about that. She wasn’t sure about anything.
There was a knock on the door before it opened a crack. “May I come in?” asked Terry Sullivan.
“Sure.” She had no idea what he was doing here. Dan was a friend, but Terry was just her lawyer.
He walked into the room. “She’s adorable.” He stared down at Irene and then looked at Alison. “But how are you? Dan told me that you had a rough time.”
“Yes, but it’s all good now.” She smiled and then turned to her mother. “Mom, this is Terry Sullivan. He’s a friend.” She wasn't quite ready to explain to her mother about the divorce. “Terry, this is my mother, Estelle Robinson.”
“Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand.
“You too.” Estelle smiled, but there was a tightness around her eyes. “How do you two know each other? I don’t think you went to college together.”
“No, we didn’t,” she said, trying not to smile. Terry was closer to Harker’s age than hers. “But I met him through Dan.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Alison,” said Terry. “May we talk in private for a moment?”
“Oh, sure. Mom, can you give me a minute?”
“Of course.” Mom didn’t look too happy. “I'll go see if I can find your husband.” She left, sending Terry and Alison a dirty look.
“Sorry about that,” she said as soon as the door closed.
“No need to apologize. I take it you haven't told her about the divorce.”
“No, not yet, but I will. I was sleeping when Dan stopped by.” Irene had finished eating. She held the baby against her shoulder, trying to get her to burp. “There's a lot my mom doesn’t know about my marriage, and she’s old-fashioned. She believes marriage is forever.” She used to believe that too, but that had been a child’s dream. She needed to put it away along with wanting to fly and talking to animals.
“I believe in that too, but unfortunately, it often doesn't work out that way. It didn't for me and my wife.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She really was. He seemed like a nice guy.
“It was a long time ago, but in the end, it was for the best. We each found someone else that makes us happier than we could’ve ever been together.” He smiled. It was soft and so filled with love that her heart ached with jealousy.
“That’s what I’m hoping for too. I never thought I'd be a divorcee and a single mother. At least I won’t have to worry about money after I sell my part of the company.” She couldn’t keep working for Harker, even as a partner. Her heart couldn’t take that much torture, seeing him every day and being there when he moved on and started dating other women.
“You're rich now. Harker has more money than anyone could spend in a lifetime…ten lifetimes.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I'm speaking now as a friend not your lawyer. I probably shouldn't be saying anything, but I've gotten nostalgic for ideals like your mother's lately.” He smiled softly as if thinking of someone fondly.
“I hope it works out for you, but it's not going to for me.”
