Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Wow,” I said. “You’ve really thought all of this through.”
“I see a lot of sad and angry people.” She lifted her cup of water and tapped it against my glass of wine. “Best of luck to you.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Can I show you something quickly?”
“You need to make an appointment if you’re after my professional opinion.”
I flattened the certificate out on the bar. “Just take a look. Please.”
With a frown, she cast her eyes over it. “Is this a joke?”
“You’re not the first person that’s asked me that. But no, it’s not. This was found recently during renovations on my house. It was in the cavity of a wall.”
“Oh, really.” She wrinkled her nose. “You seriously expect me to believe that?”
“As weird as it is, it’s the truth. I swear.”
“How much did Colin pay you?”
“I don’t know anyone called Colin.”
She laughed. “Him and his jokes. They’re going to get him in trouble one of these days. The legalities of making something like this... He certainly did a good job. If it wasn’t for the date and so on, I’d have thought it was real.”
“So you believed it was—”
“You can tell my brother that I’m delighted he’s so certain I’ll make partner in the next ten years.”
“Hold on,” I said. “Are you...? You’re Charlotte Yeoh? As in, Johnson, Cavanagh, and Yeoh?”
“Got it in one.” She shook her head with a smile and hopped down off her barstool. “Have a nice day.”
* * *
Lars was sitting on the front steps with the cat butting her head against his leg when I got home. He was in jeans, a black tee, and sneakers. No hint of the dust and dirt on him from a day’s work. And it felt right, finding him there. A self-help book I’d been reading talked about how it’s the human condition to struggle for something better. To ignore the moment and want more. This right here, however, was great. My day went from a two to a ten at the sight of him. I don’t know what we were, exactly. But I refused to believe we were doomed. Our friendship at least would persevere. As long as we didn’t get carried away and take it too far.
“I didn’t know you were waiting,” I said, my heart beating harder than it should.
“Figured you’d turn up sooner or later.”
I sat down beside him. It was midafternoon and the street was quiet. The air was thick with the promise of dark clouds gathering overhead. Soon it would storm. But not just yet.
“How long have you been here?” I asked.
“An hour or so.”
“Why didn’t you text me? I would have hurried.”
He scratched at his stubble. “Honestly...wasn’t sure what I wanted to say.”
“How did the job go?” I asked when he said no more.
“It was fine. Overtime is always useful,” he said. “How was your weekend?”
“I joined an edible garden tour on Saturday and worked most of yesterday. Donated some time to helping a local climate change action group with their online presence.” I smoothed the skirt of my black cotton fit and flare dress over my thighs. Not anxious, just nervous. Because there was totally a difference. “Today I went on a walk through the locks and botanical gardens. Took some selfies and made a couple of videos.”
“I saw.”
The man could stalk me on social media all he liked. It made me smile. Though my happiness didn’t last for long, as I recalled what I did next. “Then I walked a few blocks east to the legal offices mentioned on the divorce certificate.”
“Really?” His brows descended. “How was that?”
“The place definitely exists. Though it’s currently just Johnson and Cavanagh. I needed to see it for myself, but... I don’t know. Mostly, it just made me feel sad.”
“Did you show them the certificate?”
“Yes. Turns out the lawyer I met was Charlotte Yeoh. The third name in the law office’s title on our mystery divorce certificate. She thought I was pranking her. But she did say that if it wasn’t for the date and the name change, she’d have thought it was real.”
His brows drew together.
“Make of that what you will.”
For a long moment he said nothing. “I would have gone with you if you’d told me.”
“Thanks, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Thought it was best I went on my own.”
“Okay,” he said. “Guess if a professional authenticator couldn’t tell if it was a forgery then a lawyer probably wouldn’t say anything differently.”
“I guess so. Do you really still think someone’s playing a trick on us?”
He sighed. “Be rational. What else could it be?”
“But neither of the official people I showed it to could explain it.”
“There’s got to be another answer. I refuse to believe in magical documents appearing from the future.”
I just shrugged.
“Hear anything from Austin?”
“He called yesterday. Said his friend at the guitar shop gave it a clean and a service and it was all good. Thank God.” My fingers toyed with the hem of my skirt. “There’s a small chance I don’t always react well to stressful situations. Thank you for talking me down. And for asking Tore to help.”