Divorce Plan

"What can you do without me?"  Peter taunted while poking my head.  "You're just a poor, orphaned woman. Where are you going? An orphanage? A homeless shelter?"

I walked past him, took a suitcase from the corner of the cupboard and put it open on the bed.

"That's none of your business, Peter!"  I said curtly.  "You don't need to bother thinking about where I'm going. I can take care of myself!"

Peter laughed sarcastically.  "You won't get anything from this divorce, Leora. Don't ever expect me to give you a penny!"

I threw some of the clothes I'd had into the suitcase and my important papers, including a piece of paper I'd hidden in the dresser drawer.

The letter was very valuable and although I had originally wanted to show it to Peter, I didn't anymore.  I'll just save it as a surprise for him later.

"I don't expect your money, Peter. You don't need to worry, just save all your money for Lizzy and the child she will give birth to in a few months," I said calmly.

Peter's face looked shocked.  He probably didn't think that I knew about Lizzy's pregnancy.

"Good," said Peter in a low tone.  "That means you know yourself. You are a barren woman and can't give me children, so it's only natural that I have them from another woman."

"Sure, Peter. It's up to you!"

I closed the suitcase and walked past him.  "Just give me the divorce papers. I know you have them ready. It's in your desk drawer. I'll sign the papers right now."

"You dismantled my desk?"  Peter asked angrily.

"Your sister accidentally showed me the letter," I replied sarcastically.  "She must be hard pressed to have her rich friend as a sister-in-law."

I dragged the suitcase into the dining room and sat on a chair without moving.  Moira looked at me with a frown.

"What are you doing, sitting like a statue there," Moira snapped.  "Get your ass over here and get cooking. Me and my kids need to eat!"

I turned to her and shrugged my shoulders.  "Why don't you tell Lizzy to cook when she comes home from the hospital?"

"What do you mean by that, Leora? Are you mocking me?"  Moira shouted, slamming the pan in her hand.

She walked over to me and her hand flew to slap me, but I swiftly caught her hand and pushed her a little.  Not hardly, but she fell dramatically on the floor and started crying.

Peter and Eva ran into the dining room.  Eva quickly helped her mother, helping her up.  She looked at me vehemently.

"Bad woman! Not only are you trying to poison Lizzy, now you're also pushing my mother?"

  "There's no need to be so dramatic, Eva. I just dodged her slap and pushed her gently. Your mother is old, so she fell as if she had been hit by a storm like that!"

"ENOUGH, LEORA!"  Peter snapped.  He shoved a piece of paper in my face.  "Just sign and get out of here. You've gone too far and I can't take it anymore."

"You divorced that cruel woman, son?"  Moira asked enthusiastically.  "You should have done it a long time ago."

I grabbed the paper offered by Peter and read it.  It was a statement of divorce suit.  My heart is broken, but I am determined to finish my feelings of love for Peter here.

I signed the letter and handed it to Peter with my chin up, then grabbed my suitcase and walked out without looking back.

"Poor, arrogant woman," cried Eva.  "What's in your suitcase? Did you steal my brother's valuables in it?"

"Peter, why don't you check the contents of the suitcase? Who knows if she might be carrying your valuables?"  said Moira.

"Just leave her alone, Mom," said Peter.  "She will soon be homeless on the streets. Even if she takes any of my things, consider it charity for her."

I called a taxi and called Cathy, my best friend, on the way.

"Leo? I was just about to call you," said Cathy.  "Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to your house," I said hoarsely.  "I am hungry."

"Oh my God," exclaimed Cathy.  "You okay? Who did you go with?"

"No, I'm not fine," I said sadly.  I laughed a little, half cried too.  "I have signed the divorce papers."

Silence.  I think Chaty is digesting what I said.  Not long afterward he spoke again.  "I'll cook for you. Be careful on the road."

I ended the conversation and put the phone in my bag.

The journey to Chaty's house was only half an hour, but I felt like it would never end.

The taxi driver gave me a sympathetic look as his car pulled up in front of Cathy's house and I held out my card to pay.

Cathy didn't say anything as she opened the door and grabbed the handle of my suitcase.  She just put her arm around my shoulder and took me into the living room of her house.

The fragrant aroma of garlic makes my stomach growl.

"Let's eat," said Cathy.  "I made salmon steaks with sautéed green beans and minced garlic."

I ate heartily.  My stomach hasn't been filled with anything all day.  Lizzy's arrival two days ago really made my appetite disappear.  Moira and Eva treated her like a queen and made me a servant instead.

Lizzy can't eat this, Lizzy can't eat that, Lizzy this, Lizzy that.  I'm really fed up.

Peter suddenly seemed to have glue on his body and continued to stick to Lizzy.  They were like a pair of newlyweds who were inseparable, even when night fell, I knew that Eva moved the bed to Moira's room so that Peter, who initially pretended to sleep on the sofa, could move to Eva's room where Lizzy was sleeping.

"So, you and that bastard are finally getting a divorce?"  Chaty asked.  "That's great! You should have done it a long time ago."

"That's the same comment Moira and Eva made to Peter," I said, feeling sad.

"Those two cunning female snakes! I'll poke their eyes out when they meet," said Chaty angrily.

I couldn't help but laugh at Chaty's words.  She reached out from across the table and patted my hand gently.

"Stay here for a while, until all the divorce matters are finished, after that let's think about the next step. I will contact Mr. Declan and ask him if there is any work for you," said Cathy.

Mr. Declan is Cathy's boss at the printing company.  He was a kind-hearted middle-aged man and was a regular donor at the orphanage where Cathy and I used to live.

Cathy works as a nurse in a health clinic for employees at the company.

When I had just finished eating, my phone rang, indicating an incoming message.

I opened the messaging app and saw the message was sent by Peter.

"Where should I send the divorce papers? Give me your address and I'll send it right away!"

God, it's only been an hour since I left that damned house!