Page 58 of Married at Midnight

Ellie set her empty glass down, then sank back against the chair. “It’s time I tell you both the truth.”

Jordan, already knowing part of what she planned to reveal, gave her an encouraging look.

Olivia frowned. “The truth about what?”

Ellie slowly straightened and brought up her chin. Telling her two best friends everything might help her find the peace she’d been searching for. “Connor and I might be married, but we’re only staying so to give Viola something to live for.”

“Oh my.” Olivia blinked in surprise but rallied quickly. “So you’re pretending to be married?”

“No, we’re really married, but instead of getting an instant divorce like I wanted to in Las Vegas, Connor talked me into staying married until Viola’s health improved enough to tell her the truth.”

Jordan frowned. “Who decides when Viola is well enough?”

“We decided to end our marriage when Grayson House was finished and the Holiday Street of Dreams began. We figured that Viola would be better by then.”

“What happens after that? You simply go your separate ways?” Olivia asked with a frown.

“Connor’s already seen to our divorce papers. We’ll have to wait until the usual waiting period passes, but then everything will be over between us.” Ellie looked down at her clutched hands. “Only three more days until I’m unemployed and a soon-to-be divorcée.”

Jordan scooted her drink over to Ellie. “I’m sorry things have to end this way.”

“They don’t.” Olivia sat back against her chair with a mutinous look on her face. “You can’t go through with the divorce. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. It would be wrong to break apart what is truly meant to be.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Olivia. Our marriage was never meant to be. Connor has always and will always put his work above everything else—and that includes me.” Ellie swallowed past the lump in her throat.

Olivia reached for her hand, and Jordan put hers on top of the others. Finally Olivia spoke. “I’ve never known you to be a quitter, Ellie. Let’s figure out a solution to this problem. We’re three smart women. I’m sure we can come up with something.”

“I don’t want to come up with any scheme. For once in my life, I’m being a realist. Connor made it very clear from the beginning what our relationship would and wouldn’t become. I’m the one who changed. He didn’t. There’s nothing keeping us together.”

Olivia smiled. “I wouldn’t say nothing. You definitely have chemistry on your side.”

Ellie blushed. “Even that’s not enough. Great sex won’t solve anyone’s problems.”

“I’d like to give it a try,” Jordan said wistfully.

Ellie couldn’t help but laugh. “Never fear, Jordan. With Olivia and I having already bungled our love lives, I’d say your turn is next.”

“Hey,” Olivia protested, hugging the tiny mound of her abdomen, “my relationship with Max turned out okay.”

Ellie instantly sobered. “You are one of the lucky ones.”

“We’re all lucky,” Olivia objected. “After all, isn’t that why we started this get-together at The Lucky Club in the first place, because we were tired of being unlucky in love?” Olivia’s voice broke on the last words, and tears filled her eyes. “Sorry,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with her napkin. “It’s the hormones. Everything emotional makes me cry these days.”

Jordan and Ellie shared a glance before nodding. Neither of them felt too lucky at the moment, but neither of them would argue with their friend. If she wanted to believe their weekly meetings had changed the course of their lives, who were they to argue with a hormonal, pregnant woman?

Desperate to change the subject, Ellie said, “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?”

Jordan scooted her drink back and took a long sip, presumably to avoid the subject.

“Max and I are hosting a dinner for both of our families. Paige and the Millers and all their foster kids are coming, too,” Olivia said.

“That sounds like a lot of work for you,” Ellie replied.

“Not at all.” Olivia’s eyes dried and her smile returned as the hormones settled back into a more normal state. “Max hired a chef. He won’t let me do a thing until the baby’s born.”

“That’s in five more months.” Jordan’s eyes went wide.

Olivia shrugged. “He’s being overprotective, I agree. When I need to, I’ll resurrect my stubborn streak.”