As soon as I see Miles standing outside the restaurant we agreed to meet at, I feel so comfortable, the words just tumble out of my mouth. “Miles, would you go to my divorce hearing and speak on my behalf to the judge?”He seems puzzled for a moment, likely at the sudden topic out of nowhere. But he
The hearing devolves into something of a circus after that.Garnar tries to jump the table to get to Miles and has to be escorted out in handcuffs.“This behavior is not becoming of your client,” the judge tells Garnar’s attorney, once things have calmed down. “If he cannot behave himself in a room
Miles continues to be hesitant about my returning home, even after I assure him that Garnar’s outburst isn’t anything I haven’t already been used to hearing before.He insists on stepping out into the hallway first, checking both directions before then leading me outside. We walk together, close but
“It’s not their fault,” Garnar says.Good, I think. We might be able to work with this.“It’s your fault,” he finishes.Or not.“You can’t tell them that,” I say.“Why not? When it’s the truth.”“It’s not the truth, and even if it was, which again, it’s not, we shouldn’t try to have the girls take s
That night, I sit down with my daughters and once more try to explain about divorce.“Sometimes mommies and daddies just fall out of love with each other. It’s not your fault. Your dad and I both love you very much, and we are going to do our best to not make you sad, okay?”Violet cries again. Iris
“Oh,” Miles says. “That.”I have so many questions that I’m unsure where even to start. Why? How? My mind is a mess.Fortunately, Miles takes pity on me and starts talking without any prompting.“Thea and Garnar have cost you your normal life, Esther. I wasn’t going to let them take away your family
Three hours later, Miles has satisfied me in almost every way a man can satisfy a woman. All of my bones are liquid, I don’t think I could find the strength to move from my spot on this bed if a fire broke out right next to me.Miles, however, already seems ready for another round, his vitriol unmat
“Esther?”“I’m okay,” I say. “Better than okay.”Miles’s grin stretches wide. “Good. That’s what I was going for.”“I would have thought it would be obvious,” I tell him. I set aside the water and settle back down onto the blankets. He tosses aside the washcloth and joins me.“I’ve never given it so