“It’s not just about you. I told you about my roof and HVAC.”
“Come on. You’re telling me you’d getmarriedin order tohave better air conditioning?” Even as I said it, I realized plenty of people would get married for a million dollars. And Jack would be able to do a lot more than fix his AC.
“My point is I have things I need money for too.”
The idea was despicable, but my brain decided to poke it—test its structure.
“So, what? Would we get divorced after we signed for the sale?”
“If that’s what you wanted.”
“Wait, is that not whatyou’dwant?”
He blinked, talking in a rush. “Of course we’d get divorced.” He added more slowly, “We’ve done it once before. We can…do it again.”
I nodded. We could do it again.
Granted, I doubted I’d live to see another day when it happened the first time, but I survived, despite all odds.
But Kacey.
I shook my head. “This won’t work. I have a son to think about.”
“I think Kacey’s the reason you should do it.”
But Jack didn’t know everything. What would happen when the truth spewed? Would he call off the deal? Take me to court and make me look unstable and desperate?
Jack continued, “A couple months of this and you could give him a different life.”
But a different life. Itwasappealing.
“Mr. Ruben said we could take it to court. Maybe we’d win. Then we wouldn’t have to get married or wait six years.”
“Yeah, I’ve been doing some research…”
“Oh no.”
He shook his head. “We’re talking a lengthy, expensive process.”
“How expensive?”
“Five to ten thousand. Starting out.”
I knew Jack didn’t have much. Sure, he always paid his bills and had a bit in savings, but law enforcement wasn’t the career for people with lofty financial goals.
“We could contest the will, spend all that money, and still potentially lose.”
“Exactly.”
“So…if we got married, would we live together?”
He rubbed the top of his head again. “I mean, I kind of assumed we would. It sounds like you don’t have another place to go.”
“Yeah, I don’t.”
“I have a second bedroom.” He shifted in discomfort. “It’s not like it’d have to be a real marriage or anything.”
He didn’t have to expound. I knew what he meant. My breathing shallowed at the memories. Back in close quarters with my old husband. With all the old problems. And all the old desires. Those desires were alive and well. I could see them in his eyes and feel them in my belly when he was near. They had never fully died.
