Wyoming

  

     It's done. I'm free. Finally! I sigh as I stand to my feet. Happiness is pulsing, ready to erupt right under my skin, but I contain it. I need to remain dignified since the enemy hasn't left the courtroom.

   I straighten my pencil skirt and push a stray curl behind my ear. I offer Mr. Hedge my hand, and I give him a big smile. 

   "We did it, sir," I say, and he returns my smile and handshake before refocusing on gathering his notes. 

  "We sure did. It wasn't easy, but we did it. You have officially divorced Mr. Polk and are once again a free woman. If there is...Oh yes, umm, Ms. Layne, tomorrow, could you stop by my office around 3 pm. A few days ago, I was contacted over a separate matter that I need to discuss with you," Mr.Hedge says as if he just remembered the separate thing we needed to discuss. 

  He packs up the few documents left on the table, and my brain panics as I try to piece together what he could be talking about.

 After months of legal battles, my stress level is at an all-time high. I still don't have a place to live, and the last four homes I put offers in on went to other buyers. I am slowly running out of time, and I don't even have a house for my child to come home to. 

  "Can't you speak to me now," I ask, and Mr. Hedge shakes his head. 

  "I think you would like this to be said in private I don't want us to be overheard," Mr. Hedge explains while shooting a glance across the room. 

  I follow his gaze to see Margaret Polk staring at me with nothing but venom in her eyes. Childishly I want to stick out my tongue at her, but I refrain. I won, and there is no reason to antagonize my child's grandmother further. She just has to accept I in no way wronged her son. My eyes shift a little to the right to find a mopey-looking Adam also starting at me, and I decide Mr. Hedge is correct. I don't want them hearing anything that pertains to my life. 

  "Thank you. Is the matter concerning the Polks" I ask to give myself some peace of mind. 

  "No. Just some information that has been trying to find you. But since you had a different last name, the legal team looking for you had had a hard time," Mr.Hedge explains, and my confusion deepens. 

   "Okay. I will see you tomorrow at three. Thank you, Mr. Hedge," I reply. 

  Harry gives me a slight nod in return and leaves the courtroom. I watch him with a frown as I try to piece together who might have been looking for me. But no one comes to mind. 

   I have been an orphan since before the age of one. My parents went out hiking and were killed by a mountain lion. When their bodies were discovered, the police come to our home to find me hungry and screaming. Officials searched for other relatives to take me in but found no one. Before I married Adam, I was a nobody. So who is using my maiden name to look for me? 

   I pick up my little clutch purse and head for the elevators. I need to get something in my stomach since I didn't eat this morning. My little swimmer is growing bigger every day and increasing my appetite along with it. 

  I press the button to the first floor, but before entering, someone yanks me back towards the wall by my forearm.

   I squeal, but when Margaret's angry face appears before my eyes, I snap my mouth closed. I refuse to show this woman an ounce of fear.

  "How dare you take fifty percent of my husband's company. You worthless gutter rat," Margaret snaps in a low voice as soon as she sees I am no longer frightened by her aggressive actions. 

   I fold my arms and stare down at the short, stocky woman with open hatred. 

   "That was never something I wanted, Margaret. Your husband, you, and Adam drafted our prenup. I had no say in what I would receive if your son couldn't keep it in his pants," I practically growl, and she takes a step back in shock. 

  That's right, Margaret, say hello to Samantha Layne and goodbye to meek, passive Samantha Polk.

  "You thought my son would choose to stay with his high school charity case? You are nothing, Samantha. A nobody. You are worthless. You didn't deserve to lick the dirt from my son's shoes, much less marry him," Margaret retorts before she is yanked away from me by a furious Adam. 

  "Do not speak to her like that, mom. She is the mother of my child," Adam snaps, standing up for me for the first time. 

  "Your child? Do you mean the bastard growing in her tainted womb? Adam, wake up! She got knocked up by someone else and then jumped on you when she knew you were also seeing someone on the side. She is just good at hiding her tracks. Why do you think she popped up at your work with lunch? This tramp never did that for you," Margaret rages while jabbing her finger in my direction. 

  "For your information, mom, Sam regularly brought me lunch as well as the crew. When our marriage got rocky, she stopped," Adam snaps, and my eyebrows raise. 

  Where was this guy during our entire marriage? He used to let his mother openly degrade me regularly. 

   "Adam, I don't need you to defend me. DNA will make your mother eat her own words. If the two of you would kindly move out of my way, I have places to be," I snap, and both Polk faces turn to mine with different emotions. 

  One regretful and the other furious. 

   "I know it isn't Adam's, you slut! I made sure my son used protection with you. Now with Kelly...he can go without! She is an O'Neil. She comes from a good family unlike your worthless hide," Margaret snaps, and pain stabs me in the heart. 

  My love for Adam died months ago but to know he openly discussed who he used protection with and who he didn't...with his mother. They were both plotting, plotting to move up in society. 

  I lift my eyes to Adam's, and his face says it all. He did it. He regrets it, but he did it. He tried to knock up his little pure pedigree girlfriend. His mother wanted him to be tied to a woman who comes from money, and he went along with it.  

  "Well, Mrs. Polk, I have never heard of the O'Neil family until I met Ms. Kelly, but I wish Adam good luck in siring his ticket into their family," I finally say after staring at Adam with open disgust. 

  "You stupid bitch! Of course you...," Margaret starts to say, but a deep voice makes her following words die in her throat. 

  "Is that what you did? You ruined my son's marriage because the woman he loved wasn't rich and didn't come from a well-off family" Andrew yells, and Margaret looks like a child who was just told, Santa isn't real. 

  She turns to look at her husband as I place a hand on my now growling stomach. I don't care anymore. I need food, and honestly, their bickering isn't my problem anymore. I wish I could escape, but Margaret is blocking my exit. 

  "Honey," Margaret practically coos, and Andrew slaps his hand over her mouth. 

  My eyes widen; like Adam, Andrew isn't a violent man. He must be beyond furious to touch his wife like that. 

 "I came from nothing, Margaret! I built our company from the ground up! I married you right out of high school, just like Adam married Sam. You were a poor girl from the low side! How dare you belittle Samantha for being exactly what you used to be. How dare you push my son to be a money-grubbing worm. You disgust me. All you see now are dollar signs. You made our son throw away someone who loved him, for someone who doesn't give a shit whether he lives or dies! I'm done, Margaret! Done! Get the hell out of my house and take YOUR son with you. I put the adultery clause in their prenup, and I am proud to see Sam with half my company," Andrew roars, and I freeze against the wall. 

  My heart pumps faster and faster as I try to avoid all eye contact with the Polk family. Andrew has never seen who his wife has become, and I guess the realization is too much for even his old-school ways. 

  Andrew's hand falls away from Margaret's mouth, and I sneak a glance in her direction. Her cheeks are red from Andrew's hand and covered in tears, but I feel zero sympathy towards the woman. She made her bed, and now she has to lie in it. 

  "But...Andrew, where will I go," Margaret whispers, and Andrew's eyes flash with compassion before they harden over again. 

  "That no longer concerns me, Margaret. Maybe try what Samantha has had to do, live in a hotel," Andrew snaps, and Adam places a hand on his mother's shoulder. 

     "You can stay with me, mom," Adam says, and I almost scoff at my previous praises towards the momma's boy. 

  Of course, he would save his mother from living with her consequences. 

   I roll my eyes and open my mouth to ask Margaret to move, but tiny black dots begin to cloud my vision. I place my hand on the wall, but my wobble doesn't go unnoticed. 

  "Sam," Adam asks before his father steps closer to me. 

  "Sam, have you eaten," Andrew asks in a voice barely above a whisper, and I move my head slowly to indicate no. 

  "No...I...I was worried about the hearing," I admit before feeling a strong arm wrap around my waist. 

  "Adam, while I tend to your  "ex-wife" and unborn child...you can look after mine," Andrew says before towing me away. 

  He pushes the button to the Lobby with such force I almost cringe. I've never seen Mr. Polk this angry before, and my heart actually breaks for him. His life partner of over thirty years isn't who he thought she was. I felt betrayed after seven years. I can't imagine what thirty feels like. 

  "I'm sorry," I whisper, and he tilts his head back and closes his eyes before responding. 

  "I feel so stupid, Sam. I noticed the changes. I even had friends tell me she was changing, but I ignored their warnings. I just thought our old friends were jealous of our success, like she said. I thought all her old friends stopped talking to her, which she told me when I asked... But I realize now it was the other way around. She thought we had become too good for them. I never thought my sweet Marge would turn into a snob...Never Sam...It's me who's sorry," Andrew says while keeping his face upwards and his eyes closed.

  We both fall silent as our thoughts consume us. Who did we marry??

*****

    I wipe my mouth and check my makeup quickly before jumping out of my "new to me" car. It's 2:50 PM, and I need to get to the top of the Hamilton building quickly if I am going to make my appointment with Mr. Hedge.  

  After Mr. Polk drove me to dinner last night, I have thought of nothing but this meeting. Curiosity is eating me alive. I want to know who has been searching for me and why. 

   I rush to catch the elevator and squeeze in amongst the well-dressed lawyers whose offices are also in this building. I begin to regret my decision as we proceed to stop at almost every floor. As the minute's tick by and my anxiety grows, I begin to check my watch nearly every second. By 2:54 PM, my hands are sweating. Mr. Hedge and I are friendly, but he hates when people are late. 

  Finally, after two more stops, I reach his floor and sigh openly amongst absolute strangers. I made it. 

  "Ms. Layne, for Mr. Hedge, please," I say as soon as I step into his small office. 

  His receptionist shoots me a smile and presses the intercom to announce my arrival. I can see the amusement on her face. She knows I hate being late just as much as Mr. Hedge hates tardy people. As often as I have had to come here, we have become familiar with each other, and I can honestly say I like her. She didn't pity me when she learned Adam had cheated. She was angry for me, which I liked. 

  I don't bother sitting, considering the time. I know he will be closing the open documents on his computer and heading this way, so I remain standing. I need the exercise anyway. 

  "Morning, Ms. Layne. Are you ready," Mr. Hedge asks as he appears right at three, and I smile. 

  "Yes, sir," I reply before following him the short distance to his small private space. 

    I take a seat and look at him expectantly. I have waited over twelve hours for this, and I am a little anxious. 

  "Well, last week, I was contacted by a law office out of Wyoming. It turns out they have been looking for you for the past five years. They are handling your paternal grandmother's estate, and you are her last living relative. She left everything to you. I know you have been having issues with finding a home in the current housing market, and I am happy to inform you that the estate includes a home...as well as a substantial sum of money. The home sits on 200 acres and is all yours," Mr. Hedge says, dropping a massive weight on my brain, and my mouth falls open. 

  "What," I whisper, and Mr.Hedge nods. 

   "That's exactly what I said when they called. You told me your family history, so I was in shock. I made sure to double-check that they had the right person...everything checks out. You were her granddaughter," Mr. Hedge says, and my gaze falls to the desk so I can process his words. 

  I had a grandmother, but she died. She had money and land...and left it to me. I have a home for my child...but in Wyoming. My parents were from Wyoming... No wonder the cops couldn't locate any relatives when my parents died. 

  Wyoming. I don't know anything about Wyoming, except it's where most of Yellowstone National park is... Can I move to a whole other part of the country? I would be putting some much-needed distance between Adam and me. Which after yesterday, I think that would be the best move. Is this for real?.... My mind sputters through all of my thoughts at once before I lift my eyes back towards Mr. Hedge. 

  "This is crazy...and you're sure. It's mine," I whisper, and Mr.Hedge nods while offering me a kind smile. 

  "I'm sure, Sam. You have a home for your child," Harry says, dropping his professional facade. 

  I give him a watery smile in response, and he smiles back. 

 Well, it looks like I'm moving to Wyoming.