Spirited Ride

by Rebecca Avery

  “When you came to my office that day and told me you that you wanted a divorce… what did I tell you?” Becca asked her.

  Then without waiting for a response Becca continued, “I said to give it some time… to really think about what you wanted. You gave it the month I suggested but you never really thought about what you wanted and instead impetuously filled out the divorce papers, asking for things you knew would start a fight with TJ. Then you both proceeded to use that document as a way to provoke and anger each other until, in another round of impulsivity. TJ signs it and then insists that I file it. I can only do so much to keep you from screwing up your lives! At some point you are going to have to be grownups and figure out what’s best for you… on your own.”

  Sherri glanced over at TJ and his stunned expression matched hers. She would have felt properly chastised by Becca if not for Dickie who took that moment to lean down and whisper something in Becca’s ear that made the older woman blush.

  Becca swatted at Dickie in an effort to get him to leave her alone which only made the older man smile more.

  “I cannot undo a court ruling,” Becca sighed after collecting herself and burning a dirty look at Dickie who actually laughed out loud. “You would simply have to remarry. However, before you do so… may I again suggest that you take some time and really think about what works best for you in your relationship? This time if you choose not to give the importance of this decision its due diligence… then please do not expect me to be able to swoop in and save you from yourselves!”

  Sherri felt bad because ultimately Becca was right. As much as they had said they wouldn’t involve their friends or try to make them choose sides, they had used Becca as one more weapon against each other. Glancing at TJ she could see that he also felt the guilt over their actions.

  “You’re so right and this time we will actually listen to the advice we pay you for,” she said to Becca with an apologetic smile.

  “I’m sorry to be so… harsh. It’s just that I care about you both. You’re good people… with you helping Chuck find places for these kids to work when they get out of the foster system and convincing Casey Lawrence do what was right by little Ginny,” Becca said to Sherri.

  Then looking at TJ she said, “And you… that song has made more than enough money to pay off little Melody’s doctor bills. Tommy’s family is fine now. Are you sure you don’t want to reinstate your share of the royalties from it? Seems to me, with your new store you could use the money now.”

  Suddenly the ease with which little Ginny’s adoption had transpired made perfect sense. Lilly had given Casey some money to help her ‘get her life back on track’ but even having her sign over all rights and put the child up for adoption hadn’t been enough.

  Melody’s outstanding medical bills had made it seem as though Dana and Tommy couldn’t afford another child. Then somehow miraculously, at least it had seemed so at the time, the money to pay the bills was suddenly there… and it hadn’t come from Chuck but from one of Tommy and TJ’s songs.

  TJ’s financial status made complete sense to her now. She had long since stopped worrying about where the money had gone and just tried to trust that there was an explanation. Now there was.

  “No. I’ve got all I need,” TJ smiled and looked over at her. “Fame and fortune is for someone a little more determined than myself, I guess.”

  “Well good luck to you both then,” Becca said, handing them a piece of paper from her briefcase.

  TJ took the paper from Becca’s hand, unfolded it, read it and then handed it to Sherri. It was a document signed by Chuck stating that in the event they chose not to reinstate their rights to the royalty from the song that their debt to him for the store was forgiven. The crazy ass, wild man and newest father in the group had no sense at all but Sherri would deal with him later.

  “I finished the seat on that bike of yours,” Dickie said to TJ and the two went out to the tiny garage where Dickie’s workshop was housed.

  The next hour was spent visiting and enjoying the closeness of friends who truly were more like family. Sherri couldn’t help but be grateful for the way things had turned out… in spite of the divorce.

  Once she and TJ made it back to the apartment later that evening, she stopped him when he started in on getting her naked by saying, “I don’t think I want to marry you again, TJ.”

  He tensed and backed away from where he’d been kissing the back of her neck and turned her around to face him. “The hell you say…” he replied.

  “I was thinking about what Becca said today and what you said that first night we spent together at the music store. You’re both right… we don’t need a piece of paper to tell us what we have. It’s up to us to make this thing work. If we want to be together badly enough… then we will be… we’ll ride out any storms that come along because we want to… not because some piece of paper says we should,” she said.

  “I agree.” At her shocked expression at him giving in so easily to her announcement, he laughed and continued, “Besides… you never changed your last name back to your maiden one. So most people will just assume that you still belong to me anyway. I love you… Sherri Simons.”

  You can find out about more Riding with Honor stories at http://www.rebeccamaverybooks.com