"So I packed up. I took only the things that I had shown up with because I don't want anything from him. Not the clothes or rings. Not his allowance. Not his five million dollars."
Her brows arched. "Five million dollars?"
I nodded. "When I told him the deal was over, he reminded me that we hadn’t made it to the six-month mark, which would have given me some guarantees financially. But I don't want anything from him. Including his name on the babies' birth certificates."
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I told him the only thing I wanted from him was for him to sign away his rights. Of course, he pointed out that the babies weren’t his, so he didn't have any rights. I didn’t finish law school, but I know a little something about family law, and because we’re married, legally, he could be presumed as the father. I told him he could sign papers that said he didn't believe he was the father but if he was, he’d relinquish his rights."
Vivie blinked. "Why would you do that?" She almost sounded disapproving.
"He doesn’t believe the baby is his in the first place. I don't want anything from him. So why should he have any rights to the child?"
"What about the baby? I mean, I get it, James is being a jerk, but maybe you should put the babies first. They might want to know their father."
I had a small flash of guilt, but not too much. "He doesn't want to know the babies. I don't want to subject my kids to being rejected by their father.”
Her head tilted to the side as if she was conceding the idea. "Even so, everything's wrong right now, but maybe he'll change his mind."
I pursed my lips and glared at her. "He's known that I've been pregnant long enough to have adjusted. He has no interest. And so, I need to move on."
"But what about finances? I hate to sound so crass, but five million dollars could go a long way to helping you and the babies. It would definitely take the stress off until you figured out what you wanted to do."
I knew she was right, and walking away from the money was the only decision that I was second-guessing. But it was too late now. What was done was done. I'd left James, and I planned to never see him again. But there was the allowance. I had spent hardly any of it. Perhaps I could take a small amount until I found a job and a new place to live.
Vivie putme up in her spare bedroom, telling me I could stay as long as I wanted. She even said it would make it easier for us to work on the romance novel writing venture. I had no illusion that I was going to make a living writing romances, but I figured it would be something to occupy my time as I put my life in order.
That night, even though it made me feel like a loser, I logged into my bank online and transferred a quarter of the money James had put in the allowance account to my account to have a little something until I got on my feet. I wanted to pay my way for the time I lived with Vivie. Plus, I needed to hire a lawyer to draw up divorce papers and paternal relinquishment papers.
The next day, I couldn’t get out of bed. I hated that my emotions were draining me of energy and drive. Vivie suggested that I give myself a day to wallow and get all the pain and anger out of my system. I didn't have much choice, so I stayed in bed.
But the next morning, I was determined to rise and shine no matter what. I wasn't going to give in to my grief about James anymore. I had two children I needed to prepare for.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw a note Vivie left saying that she'd gone out to run errands but would be back in a little bit. She also left a folder of romance story ideas on the table in case I wanted to look at them. Because I was tired of wallowing in anger and grief, as I had my tea and toast with peanut butter on it for breakfast, I went through her notes, jotting down a few thoughts I had.
When I finished my breakfast, I researched attorneys in Las Vegas and called one that had an opening for later that morning. I showered and dressed and headed out to the meeting.
I brought the prenup, but when I handed it to her, I explained that I was not entitled to anything and that I didn’t want anything. She quickly scanned the document and agreed that I hadn't met the conditions, but she recommended that I still try to get something from him.
"I don't want anything from him except for custody of the babies."
"Fathers have rights. Unless you can prove he's unfit—"
"He won't admit that the babies are his. He’ll deny it and sign anything to make sure he’s not tied to me or the babies."
She studied me for a moment, and I wasn't sure whether she was pitying me or trying to decide if I was being foolish.
Ultimately, she nodded. "Well, it's pretty straightforward, then. I’ll draw these up, and I can probably have them for you later today."
I was surprised that she could have it done so quickly. Then again, she had a small practice.
"When they're done, can I have them? I would like to have discretion. I can file and serve them."
"If that's what you wish. If you'd like, I can text you when it's ready."
I paid the fee and left the office. In the car, another profound sense of sadness overtook me. I couldn't pinpoint just one source of the grief. Part of it was knowing my babies wouldn't know their father. Another was for myself at losing something I believed could have been really good between James and me. And some of it was for James and his inability to see that he was a man who could be loved. That he was capable of love as well. His devotion to Amelia was proof of that.
After the meeting with the lawyer, I stopped at the grocery to pick up some food as part of my effort to help pay my way while I stayed at Vivie’s. I decided I’d make dinner that night as part of my payment.