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what?”
    â€œCome on, I know you told George.” Steve had apologized for doing it with Kim, and now he expected an apology from Laura for getting him canned. “He sort of let it slip.”
    She frowned. “I can’t believe you just said that. I haven’t spoken to him in months. And I can’t believe you’d make up a lie like that.”
    â€œLook, have it your way. I’m fired, okay? I need to come back home and start looking for a job.”
    â€œMy God, Steve, you think this is some kind of game? This is our life. I agree you’ll have to find a job, but I’ve decided to talk to a lawyer about a permanent separation and divorce. You’ll get visitation rights for the kids. I’m not even asking for child support.”
    â€œDivorce? Laura, c’mon, it doesn’t need to be this way.”
    â€œYes it does. Now that I’ve had a couple of weeks to think about it, I realize that we’ve been living two separate lives for I don’t know how long. You at the station. Me at the hospital. We’ve been avoiding each other for years. We never make love. Sex, maybe, but love, no. The only thing we have in common is the kids, and I know I can be a better mother if I’m on my own. Besides the way you feel about the twins — Anyway, it’s fine with me to keep alternating weekends, but we’ll have to go to court and get the whole thing finalized.”
    Steve’s face tightened. “Sounds like you’ve got everything figured out. Except for me. What about me?”
    â€œPlease stop.”
    â€œLaura,” Steve went on, “we’ve been married for fifteen years. We have five kids who need two parents. I’m living in a dump, and I have no job.”
    Laura sighed. “Look, we’re not getting anywhere with this. Just take me home.”
    â€œC’mon, we need to talk about this. Let’s take a walk, get an ice cream.”
    â€œI don’t want any ice cream. If you won’t take me back, I’ll walk.”
    Steve’s face clouded as he turned the ignition key. “Promise me one thing. No more talk about a lawyer. The least you can do is give me some time to find a job. Cut me a little slack here.”
    â€œNo,” she said through clenched teeth. “I need to move forward with my life now.”
    â€œLaura, please. Don’t back me into a corner.”

CHAPTER SIX
    Alone in the small apartment all week long, he’d had plenty of time to think. For the first time in his life, Steve had had to do his own household chores and the place was a mess. Dirty dishes scattered about, the same unwashed sheets on the bed. There was a mildew smell in the closet and that circle of scum building in the bathroom sink. After lying around watching mindless TV all day, each night he’d gone back to the Bayside Saloon.
    Midweek, he’d stopped by the newsroom to pick up his belongings. That prick George had been “in a meeting,” and “couldn’t be disturbed.” Kim was packing up her side of the office, too busy with her plans to move to Atlanta that weekend to even have lunch. What a bitch she’d turned out to be. Last night Steve had driven by her place thinking that maybe he could get her to change her mind. Kim hadn’t even been home. So where was she? With that “dangerous” boyfriend of hers? The one he was supposed to be so scared of? Well, he wasn’t scared. Pissed, yes, but not scared.
    That morning, Steve had stopped at the Barnett Bank. No questions asked, he had withdrawn all but $942 from his and Laura’s joint savings account — $51,942. Guess she hadn’t gotten a lawyer yet. He took the money as cash in hundred dollar bills, placing most of it in a safe deposit box under his name only. Steve and Laura had been one of those rare, lucky couples who never argued over money. They spent what they needed to maintain the household, a