Read Online A Woman's Place: A Novel by Barbara Delinsky - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Delinsky
32
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
now, said in the deep voice that was his alone, "This is a joke, isn't it?"
I had thought it at first, too. So we were alike, Brody and I, but that wasn't a crime. It was common sense. We both knew I was responsible. We both knew I loved my kids. We both knew I had been an attentive wife.
"He wants a divorce," I said, calmer now that I wasn't alone. "He wants the house, he wants alimony, he wants the kids." Brody looked so stunned that I nearly hugged him. His disbelief validated mine.
"Since when?" he charged.
"God knows, but he's been planning it for a while. The kids are with Howard and Elizabeth."
He stared blankly at the court order. "What judge in his right mind would issue this?" "One who has been read a list of my sins."
"WhatsmsT
I told him the ones to do with the children. "Dennis says I'm in a state of personal crisis that is interfering with my parenting, but you haven't heard the best. He says you and I are having an affair." Brody jerked his head back. I couldn't tell if his cheeks grew redder, what with the color already there, but I could have sworn there was something, maybe in his eyes, an intimate twinge. I felt it, myself. Embarrassed, almost.
He didn't say anything at first. Then he swallowed. "Dennis said that?" I nodded.
Again he pushed his sleeve across his forehead.
"I need help, Brody. He's making arguments based on circumstance and supposition, and the bottom line is that I've been barred from my home and ordered away from my own kids, from my own kids. When I tried to reason with him, he called the cops, and one actually came. Right to the house. Because of me," I thumped my chest, "like I have a history of violence. He said I had to leave. He actually walked me out." Brody reread the court order. "What is Dennis thinking? I thought court orders were a last resort. He hasn't ever talked divorce."
"Separation, he has. He does it when he's feeling low. I always argued against it. Our marriage may not be made in heaven, but it's better than most." Or was I kidding myself. "Isn't it?" Brody didn't answer. Bending over the sink, he drank straight from the faucet, then straightened, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes were dark. "So he says we're having an affair. That's priceless," he muttered. "What kind of fuckin' evidence does he have?"
"Stupid stuff. Working together, traveling together."
"He's crazy. Damn it." He looked stricken. "I know about the pain of divorce. I never wanted it for you. Never wanted it for Johnny and Kikit." He swore softly.
"I want my kids back, Brody."
Page 33
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
"You need a lawyer."
"Well, that's the next problem. I just came from seeing Lloyd Usher. Talk about mistakes. He made me feel like I'm getting what I deserve. Am I? How did I do wrong by trying to do everything right?" Brody started to put an arm around me but stopped and looked down at himself in disgust.
So I did it myself, slipped my arm around his waist. I didn't care if he was sweaty. I wanted the comfort. And it was innocent. Despite what Dennis would have made of it.
Pulling me closer, Brody said a vehement, "You didn't do anything wrong. You've worn three hats at the same time and worn them well. You deserve a medal. Dennis knows that. What in the hell's got into him?"
"I don't know."
"Did you give Usher a retainer?"
"No."
"Good. He isn't a nice guy, Claire. The greatest thing he has going for him is name recognition. His clientele is mostly women. Helpless women. They go to him because they think he's tough and they need someone tough. They don't object when he demands a huge retainer because they think that'll guarantee his attentiveness. Then they go home and assume he's working on their cases, only he isn't. He's taking them for a ride. They find that out when things don't happen. When they complain, he acts insulted and pawns them off on associates. By then, they've invested too much time and
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
now, said in the deep voice that was his alone, "This is a joke, isn't it?"
I had thought it at first, too. So we were alike, Brody and I, but that wasn't a crime. It was common sense. We both knew I was responsible. We both knew I loved my kids. We both knew I had been an attentive wife.
"He wants a divorce," I said, calmer now that I wasn't alone. "He wants the house, he wants alimony, he wants the kids." Brody looked so stunned that I nearly hugged him. His disbelief validated mine.
"Since when?" he charged.
"God knows, but he's been planning it for a while. The kids are with Howard and Elizabeth."
He stared blankly at the court order. "What judge in his right mind would issue this?" "One who has been read a list of my sins."
"WhatsmsT
I told him the ones to do with the children. "Dennis says I'm in a state of personal crisis that is interfering with my parenting, but you haven't heard the best. He says you and I are having an affair." Brody jerked his head back. I couldn't tell if his cheeks grew redder, what with the color already there, but I could have sworn there was something, maybe in his eyes, an intimate twinge. I felt it, myself. Embarrassed, almost.
He didn't say anything at first. Then he swallowed. "Dennis said that?" I nodded.
Again he pushed his sleeve across his forehead.
"I need help, Brody. He's making arguments based on circumstance and supposition, and the bottom line is that I've been barred from my home and ordered away from my own kids, from my own kids. When I tried to reason with him, he called the cops, and one actually came. Right to the house. Because of me," I thumped my chest, "like I have a history of violence. He said I had to leave. He actually walked me out." Brody reread the court order. "What is Dennis thinking? I thought court orders were a last resort. He hasn't ever talked divorce."
"Separation, he has. He does it when he's feeling low. I always argued against it. Our marriage may not be made in heaven, but it's better than most." Or was I kidding myself. "Isn't it?" Brody didn't answer. Bending over the sink, he drank straight from the faucet, then straightened, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes were dark. "So he says we're having an affair. That's priceless," he muttered. "What kind of fuckin' evidence does he have?"
"Stupid stuff. Working together, traveling together."
"He's crazy. Damn it." He looked stricken. "I know about the pain of divorce. I never wanted it for you. Never wanted it for Johnny and Kikit." He swore softly.
"I want my kids back, Brody."
Page 33
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
"You need a lawyer."
"Well, that's the next problem. I just came from seeing Lloyd Usher. Talk about mistakes. He made me feel like I'm getting what I deserve. Am I? How did I do wrong by trying to do everything right?" Brody started to put an arm around me but stopped and looked down at himself in disgust.
So I did it myself, slipped my arm around his waist. I didn't care if he was sweaty. I wanted the comfort. And it was innocent. Despite what Dennis would have made of it.
Pulling me closer, Brody said a vehement, "You didn't do anything wrong. You've worn three hats at the same time and worn them well. You deserve a medal. Dennis knows that. What in the hell's got into him?"
"I don't know."
"Did you give Usher a retainer?"
"No."
"Good. He isn't a nice guy, Claire. The greatest thing he has going for him is name recognition. His clientele is mostly women. Helpless women. They go to him because they think he's tough and they need someone tough. They don't object when he demands a huge retainer because they think that'll guarantee his attentiveness. Then they go home and assume he's working on their cases, only he isn't. He's taking them for a ride. They find that out when things don't happen. When they complain, he acts insulted and pawns them off on associates. By then, they've invested too much time and
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