Chapter Three

“Really?” Kathy exclaimed. 

“Really. And Kathy, I’ve tried everything. Sexy outfits, romantic date nights, even, you know…” Maddie trailed off as she blushed, “um… I’ve even suggested role playing. Nothing has worked.”

She could see the understanding in Kathy’s eyes when she risked looking over at her friend.

“Well, I know you, Maddie, and I know you’re really shy about that kind of stuff, so, those were big steps for you. And you got no reaction?”

“I even went and bought this ridiculous red lace getup. It stressed me out just trying to figure out how to put the damn thing on. You know?” Maddie managed a small smile at that memory.

Kathy chuckled.

“One of those ‘is it lingerie or a puzzle rug’ types?”

“Exactly! But I figured it out, and I put it on in the middle of a Saturday afternoon, and went downstairs into the living room. Eric was watching a show, and I stood in front of him and said something provocative, I don’t even remember what exactly. Something sensual, like in those romances we read. You know what his response was?”

“What?”

“He said, ‘Move, Maddie, I can’t see the TV’.”

Kathy’s jaw dropped.

“Seriously?”

Maddie’s smile was gone, replaced with brimming eyes as she whispered, “Yep.”

“Wow,” Kathy breathed. “What an ass.”

“So, I went upstairs, and took the red lace off and threw it in the trash, and put on sweatpants and a t-shirt, and I haven’t tried anything like that since. That was four years ago. And I’ve gotten used to not having an intimate life anymore. But now, it’s everything. He can’t even bother to let me know he’s working late anymore.”

Maddie was transitioning back to anger as she spoke.

“Like last night. I found a new recipe, decided to make us a nice dinner, with candlelight and everything. Had it plated and ready to eat at seven o’clock sharp. And he didn’t come home, and he didn’t return my text or calls. I wound up eating by myself, again, then falling asleep on the couch.”

Her laugh was a bitter one.

“I actually even put a negligee on last night too. Thank God I changed out of that! When I woke up this morning, he’d left me a note. A note, Kathy. And it just said, ‘I worked late, didn’t want to wake you, see you in a week.’ Not ‘I love you’, not ‘sorry I made you worry’, nothing else.”

Maddie stood and began to pace, her anger growing.

“And I am tired of it, Kathy. I think I might be done with this whole damn thing. I think I deserve more. I’m thirty-seven, not dead. I’m no beauty queen but I am one hell of a good woman. I’m smart, I’m honest, I’m loyal, and I’m loving. There’s got to be more for me in life than this.”

“I agree,” Kathy nodded. “Except for the ‘no beauty queen’ part. You don’t give yourself enough credit, Mad. You don’t ever notice it, but you do have men looking at you more than you realize. I think you’re fabulous, and you deserve to have a man in your life that thinks so too!”

She reached out for Maddie’s hand.

“Whatever you decide to do, just know, I have your back. If you need to crash here for a while, just say the word. Okay? You don’t have to go through this by yourself.”

“I know,” Maddie answered as she hugged Kathy. “And I am so thankful for that.”

“So, what’s next?”

Maddie set her jaw, and her tone was soft but resolved.

“I suppose it’s time to find a good divorce lawyer.”

***

“I think that went well,” Toby said, as the research and development team members began to leave the meeting.

“Me too,” Mason agreed. “And I believe we’re actually ahead of schedule. Depending on this last round of testing, we should be good to soft launch.”

“Mason, I just want to say thanks,” Toby told him earnestly. “I am so grateful to be here, to be a part of all of this.”

“Happy you’re here, man,” Mason clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a big asset to Gentries Unlimited.”

The young man grinned.

“Now, back to work.”

***

Maddie sat in the plush yet understated lobby of one Rebekah Blayne, attorney at law, absentmindedly toying with her watch as she waited for her appointment to begin. As usual, she’d arrived ten minutes early – a lesson learned from watching her father in his business dealings.

The anger that had fueled her making the appointment had dissipated, and an aching sadness had filled the vacancy.

Fifteen years, just… gone. I know this is what’s right for me, but it still hurts.

“Madeleine?” Blayne’s receptionist called out. “Ms. Blayne’s just about ready. If you’ll come with me, please, I’ll show you to the conference room.”

Maddie stood, squared her shoulders, and followed the receptionist down the hall.

As they walked, the woman said, “My name is Cheryl, it’s nice to meet you. Would you like anything to drink? Water, coffee?”

“I’ll take some water, please,” Maddie answered. “Thank you.”

Cheryl stopped at the second doorway on the left, and stepped to the side, saying, “Right in here. I’ll be back with your water. Ms. Blayne should be just a few moments longer.”

Maddie sat down, taking in the spectacular view of Lake Carolyn that only having offices on the eighth floor of a glass building could provide.

One of the many perks of having a thriving practice in Las Colinas, she thought to herself as she waited. 

Moments later Cheryl returned with a bottled water, then gently closed the door behind her as she returned to the front desk.

Twisting the cap off the bottle, Maddie took a long drink to try to stem the tide of nerves she felt creeping in. Just as she put the lid firmly back in place, Rebekah Blayne entered the room.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Nibless, I’m Rebekah Blayne,” she said, extending her hand.

Maddie rose, accepting the handshake, and answered, “Please, call me Maddie.”

Rebekah took a seat at the end of the table at an angle from the chair Maddie had chosen and opened a notebook she’d brought with her. She looked at Maddie with sympathetic brown eyes for a long moment.

“Well, then, Maddie, please call me Rebekah,” she said with a kind smile. “Now, tell me about your situation.”