“But something else has.” He kept on relentlessly, because he sensed there was more to come. “Has he made demands? Does he want six months—a year—to try to put your marriage back together?”
That’s what I would have demanded, Rosie. One year to make you fall in love with me all over again. No interference!
She was quiet too long. Her eyes refused to meet his. Suddenly she reached into her purse and handed him what looked like a letter.
Had she written down what she couldn’t say?
Puzzled, he opened it, noticing immediately that it was a summons of some kind. Two names appeared. Nicholas Marchant Armstrong and Rosie Gardner Armstrong. It had been served yesterday. He turned to the next page.
It was a standard complaint for divorce brought by Nicholas Armstrong, plaintiff, against Rosie Armstrong, defendant, for alienation of affection due to a seven-year absence because of uncontrollable circumstances created by war.
The plaintiff wishes that minor child, Cody, aged 13, remain in the custody of his mother.
The plaintiff asks for full and liberal visitation rights which will require some travel time for minor child, as plaintiff will be residing outside Salt Lake County, but within the State of Utah.
The plaintiff stipulates that he will pay all insurance, medical and educational costs for said child throughout the duration of his lifetime.
The plaintiff further stipulates that an inheritance fund for said child has been established and will come due on said child’s thirtieth birthday.
The plaintiff asks that any funds or investments accrued prior to his leaving for war, which were used to pay for the purchase of current home, be considered as partial alimony to the defendant. Any investments still outstanding are to be continued and used at the discretion of the defendant.
The plaintiff states that until such time as circumstances change and defendant remarries, a monthly alimony payment of 2500.00 will be deposited in defendant’s checking account.
The plaintiff asks for no property since all purchases were made after he was MIA and considered dead.
Zach dropped the papers on the desk. His eyes closed tightly.
Nick Armstrong was amazing. Only a man who loved his wife more than himself would be willing to do this, to put her happiness first.
The man had expected to come home to a loving wife, a wife who still waited for him. Since that hadn’t happened, he was trying to get out of their lives and make this as easy as possible on everyone. Zach admired him more than any man he’d ever known.
But one look at Rosie, and Zach could see the divorce summons had torn her into little pieces. Every word played on her guilt. Nick’s gesture—though meant to give Rosie her freedom—had robbed her of all inherent joy. This was the reason she couldn’t respond fully to him a few minutes ago.
What woman worth her salt could walk away from a marriage so fast, from a husband as remarkable as Nick Armstrong—a decorated war hero—without suffering the tortures of the damned?
He gazed at her through veiled lashes and answered his own question. Only a woman who had fallen out of love.
Zach had been so sure of her until Nick appeared on the scene. Now that he was back, Zach could sense her torment. Who could blame her? Certainly not Zach.
But her reaction to the summons changed the situation drastically. He stood up, surprising Rosie who’d been sitting there in a stuporlike trance.
Reaching for her hands, he drew her to her feet. “All right. About this divorce. How do you feel?”
She fought to keep back the tears. “Honestly?”
He nodded.
“I think it’s horrible. All of it. I still love him and the memories we’ve shared. He’s done nothing wrong!”
“I know,” Zach murmured, hating to hear the truth. “This isn’t a case of right or wrong. The man is trying to do the decent honorable thing so we can get married, but I can see you’re not ready for that.”
“I’m not.”
Zach’s heart plummeted. “Does Nick know you’ve been served yet?”
“H-he wasn’t home when the officer came to the door. After his parents left for St. George yesterday morning, he and Cody decided to go camping with a bunch of Cody’s friends and their parents. It’s spring vacation. They haven’t come home yet.”
“That’s good. Rosie?”
Lord. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say.
“I think you need time to see if your marriage will work again. It’s the last thing I want. But on the other hand, I couldn’t marry you if you weren’t totally in love with me. I’m going to bow out for a while.”
“What?” The horror on her face told him how much she cared. She began shaking her head, as if in a daze. “Have I hurt you so badly?”
“No…but while I was out sailing, I had a lot of time to think.”
“So that’s where you were!”
He nodded. “Nick deserves a fighting chance to make you fall in love with him again. I want you to give him that chance.”
His words had obviously baffled her. “But why?”
“Because I don’t want to win if I can only have part of you. I’m a greedy man, Rosie. I want the whole damn thing. I want your love, free and clear. No regrets. No what-ifs.”
She blinked. “I want that, too.”
“All right. If you’re agreed, then I’m going to put Mitch in charge of the company and move to Park City for the summer where I can train for the Tour de France.”
“No, Zach!” she cried, rushing headlong into his arms. “There has to be another way.”
“There is no other way, Rosie, and we both know it.” All I can do now is leave our fate to destiny and hope you love me enough. “Three months, Rosie. That gives you and Nick enough time to decide if you’re going to stay married.”
She looked panicked. “But I can’t bear to let you go! And…and it’s not fair to you.”
He seized on those words she’d thrown out like a lifeline. His response, though, was calm and measured. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself. I’d be happier if I could be with you, but he was there first. If he hasn’t ignited that old fire by the time the summer’s over, then I’ll know you’re all mine.”
She lifted her hands to his cheeks, her eyes tender and adoring. “You’re so wonderful. I love you with all my heart, Zach. How will I stand it without you?”
You took the words right out of my mouth, Rosie.
“I’m counting on your not being able to stand it. Now, before I forget all my noble intentions, let’s get out of here.”
“Wait.” She moistened her lips nervously. “If I’m really going to go through with this, then I should give you back your ring.”
A wave of pain staggered Zach. “You’re right. I’ll follow you home. He knows it’s sitting in your jewelry box. He’ll never believe you’re serious if you keep it there. When it’s gone, he’ll call off the divorce. That’s what you want him to do.”
That’s what I want him to do. No pressure. Then you’ll have a chance to find out you’re in love with me, Rosie Armstrong. And the sooner you do that, the better.
“Hold me for a minute,” she begged, burrowing into him. “I’m so frightened. What if you meet someone else in the meantime?”
“Do you honestly believe that could happen?”
Oh, Rosie. You don’t have a clue about the depth of my feelings.
“MOM?”
Rosie jumped as Cody walked into the foyer from the back of the house. “I—I didn’t know you were home, honey. Did you have a good time?”
“The best!”
She frantically tried to brush the tears from her eyes. Zach had barely walked out the front door. Did Cody and Nick see him in passing?
“We saw Zach getting in his car.”
There’s your answer, Rosie.
“How come you’re crying? Did you two have a fight?”
Oh, Cody. You’re so transparent. You’d g
ive anything to hear me tell you yes.
“No. But we did reach a decision about something. Come in the bedroom and I’ll tell you.”
She had no idea if Cody knew of Nick’s intentions to divorce her, but decided that Nick wouldn’t have burdened his son that way. At least not yet.
When they reached her room, she shut the door and asked Cody to sit on the bed with her. “Today Zach and I decided to break our engagement.”
His shout of joy filled the room, as she’d known it would.
“I asked him to come in the house so I could give him back his ring.”
“Then you’re not going to marry him?”
Her body shivered in reaction. “No. Your father has come home. I want the three of us to be a family again.” I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’m going to give it a try for all our sakes. Including Zach’s.
“Oh, Mom!”
For the first time in two years she could honestly say her son sounded completely happy. Those were joyous sobs shaking his body.
“I can’t wait till you tell Dad.”
“W-where is your father?”
“I think he’s still outside talking to Jeff’s dad. We had so much fun, but it would’ve been neater if you’d come. All the guys’ moms were there.”
“I’m sorry about that, honey, but I had classes and I had to prepare my end-of-term grades.”
“I know.”
“I’ll come with you next time.”
He jumped up, too excited to keep still. “Can I tell Dad?”
“If you don’t mind, Cody, that’s something I need to tell your father myself, when we’re alone.”
“Tell me what?”
Rosie wheeled around in stunned surprise. Nick had walked in on them unannounced.
If anyone had told her that a week of eating lots of good food could drastically alter a person’s appearance, she wouldn’t have believed it. But Nick was living proof.
His face seemed fuller. She saw a luster to his hair, which was looking a little longer. In fact, she sensed a general improvement in his overall well-being. He’d picked up some sun on their trip to the mountains, erasing the sallowness of his skin when he’d first gotten off the plane.
Cody eyed both of them intently, then gave Rosie a significant look. A private message. “I’ll put my gear away.”
Just like that, she was back in her son’s good graces.
“What was that all about?” Nick muttered as soon as Cody had disappeared out the door.
“If you’re worried that I told him about the summons, I didn’t say anything. I don’t want a divorce.”
“Since when?”
He rarely relied on sarcasm. It stunned her.
“Nick, we have to talk.”
“I’m all ears.”
She hated it when his voice took on that aloof wintry tone. Clearing her throat nervously, she said, “Cody mentioned you saw Zach leaving the house.”
“That’s right.”
“I’d like to explain why he was here.”
His dark brows furrowed. “I thought I made it clear that you and Zach can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Nick, darling. Stop being so damn noble.
Her heart hammered, and she summoned her courage to ask, “Would it matter if I told you I gave him back his ring?”
He started emptying his pockets on the dresser they now shared. “Whose idea was that? Yours or Zach’s?”
She’d expected any reaction except that. Linda had told her to tell the truth, no matter how much it might hurt the other person. But she seemed to be the only one getting hurt!
“Zach came back from California today and I showed him the divorce complaint. We both agreed that everything’s happening way too fast. We’ve broken our engagement.”
NICK STARED AT HER in silence. Poor Rosie. Guilt was eating her alive and Zach had had no choice but to go along with her wishes.
She’d gone on talking. “This idea of divorce is too premature, Nick.”
He should have been elated that she didn’t want the divorce, but he knew what was motivating her response. Guilt. Pity. And marriage with a wife who stayed out of guilt and pity was not his idea of happiness.
Nick grabbed some clean clothes and headed for the bathroom. Over his shoulder he said, “Let me grab a quick shower and then we’ll talk.”
The hurt look on her face crushed him, but he needed to get away from her before he listened to her pleas and called off the divorce. No, he had to continue with it to preserve his sanity and hers.
It didn’t matter that she and Zach had ended their engagement. That didn’t change the love the two of them shared. Nick knew damn well that if she stayed with him, she’d never be able to fully concentrate on their marriage when Zach was standing in the wings, just waiting for it to fail so he could claim her.
In a few swift strides Nick reached the bathroom and adjusted the taps until the spray was the right temperature. He tried to blot the grief from his mind and enjoy the luxury of a hot shower, something he’d been deprived of for so many years.
But then, there’d been so many things he’d missed. So many people—and one above all. Oh, Rosie! How am I ever going to let you go?
The way he figured it, going through with the divorce was, ironically enough, the only hope their marriage had. Because unless Rosie was free to choose—which meant free to choose Zach if she wanted—staying together would mean all the wrong things. Be for all the wrong reasons.
A half hour later he found her in the kitchen making hamburgers for dinner. Amazing what a shower and shave could do for a man. Every day he was feeling a little more normal. A little closer to his former life. If only the part with Rosie was right…
“Where’s our son?”
Rosie paused in her task of slicing purple onions and turned to glance at him. “I wanted time to talk to you first, so I told him to go play basketball for a while.” Nick felt her eyes travel over him. This evening she didn’t seem to mind what she saw. Most likely the shock had worn off and she was starting to accept the fact that he was minus a hand.
“Those sweats look good on you, Nick.”
“They’re comfortable, too. Thanks for getting them for me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Does Cody know you’ve broken up with Zach?”
“Yes.”
Biding his time, Nick opened the refrigerator to get a pint of milk. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of this stuff.” Her eyes rounded as he drank it without stopping to breathe, then tossed the empty carton into the wastebasket.
“I realize you’re starving, so I’ve made you nachos.” She pulled them out of the oven and set them on the kitchen table.
Nick didn’t need a second invitation. He straddled the back of a chair and munched to his heart’s content, watching her as she put the meat in the broiler. Then she sat down opposite him, her expression anxious.
“You haven’t said anything, Nick. What are you thinking?”
“What a great cook you are.”
She actually flushed, a small sign of the old Rosie. “I appreciate that, but you know what I’m talking about.”
He eyed her narrowly. This is going to hurt both of us, but it has to be this way.
“I’m going through with the divorce, Rosie.”
“You can’t!” The blood all but drained from her face.
He reached for another cheese nacho. “It’s only a piece of paper, Rosie, but it represents freedom for both of us. A chance for all concerned to start fresh.”
“A fresh start for you, maybe!” she cried. “But what about Cody? He’ll be in agony.”
“He’s no stranger to it.”
She shoved herself away from the table. “How can you be so callous?”
“That’s your word, Rosie. I prefer realistic.”
“You’ve grown so…cold.”
He finished off the last nacho. “Sometimes those bunkers got cold
in the middle of the night.”
A groan escaped her lips. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Forgive me.” She rushed over to the broiler to turn the hamburger patties.
Finish it now, Armstrong. You may not have the courage later. “Since you know I’m going ahead with the divorce, do you want me to move out? All you have to do is say the word.”
Her back looked as rigid as a telephone pole. “Why don’t we let Cody decide? Since you’re the one filing, you might as well be the one to tell him.”
“He’s coming through the back door right now. I guess there’s no time like the present.”
“No, Nick…” she pleaded with him.
Rosie, Rosie. The pain has got to stop!
Cody proceeded into the kitchen cautiously, staring at the two of them, his eyes shiny with hope. “Is it all right?”
“Of course.” Nick motioned for him to sit down. “There’s something I have to say, and I want you to hear it, be part of the ultimate decision.”
“Sure, Dad.” Cody tossed his head to get the hair out of his eyes.
Nick sat forward and grasped his son’s right hand. “Cody? Have you ever had someone do you a big favor?”
“Yeah. Jeff kept my aquarium clean and fed my fish while I went down to St. George for a few days.”
“Fine. That’s a good example. Now, how would you have felt if you’d learned that deep down, he hadn’t wanted to do it, but he felt like he had to?”
He hunched his shoulders. “Bad.”
“Why?”
“I guess because I don’t want anyone doing me any favors unless they really want to.”
“Exactly. Now I’m going ask you another question. It’s important. Do you think your mom really wanted to return Zach’s ring when they only got engaged three weeks ago?”
“Nick!”
“Remember what we were just talking about,” he said, ignoring Rosie’s cry.
Cody bent his head. “No,” came the quiet reply. “She didn’t….”
Nick squeezed his hand hard, then let it go. “Thanks for your honesty, son. Perhaps now you’ll understand that I don’t want anyone doing any favors for me, either.”
At those words, Cody’s head flew back. “Does that mean you and Mom are getting a divorce?”
Strangers When We Meet Page 12