Pale Honor
The ninth time I tried to divorce my husband, Don Louis Romano, my best friend Jenny Parker, who had always talked me out of it, handed me the papers herself.
Every time before, she'd done everything in her power to stop me. She'd even taken over the Family's day-to-day affairs just to create chances for us to see each other and reconcile.
I took the papers and couldn't help but ask.
Years of pent-up exhaustion showed in Jenny's eyes, and to my shock, her voice was edged with resentment.
"You got Vivian shot this time. She nearly didn't make it. How long are you going to keep this up?!"
Vivian Hale was the woman Louis had been seeing.
I stared at her in disbelief.
"Vivian's had a hard life. I'm the one who introduced her to Louis.
"I know it's not fair to you, so I've been trying to make it up to you. But you've been at this long enough. It's time to stop."
Jenny sighed.
"Back during the arms shipment ambush, Louis and I risked our lives to pull you out of that firefight.
"If our saving your life means anything, stop using divorce as a way to get Louis's attention."
I couldn't speak. My fingers clenched.
The love and friendship I'd treasured for years had only ever been real to me.
The last ember of loyalty in my heart burned out completely.
The moment Jenny looked away, I picked up the pen and signed my name without hesitation. Sherry Bennett.
This time, I was really getting a divorce.