The Ex Files

by Victoria Christopher Murray

  She sighed, wondered where these memories were coming from. Her mind should have been celebrating the massive mission that she’d accomplished two weeks ago, when Mr. Quimby had found more than just Sabrina’s mother. It seemed the reuion was going well, according to her father.

  “Oh, baby girl, God is so good. All the tests are being run on Sabrina’s sisters. I wish you’d come over here. Shelly is here too, and they all want to meet you.”

  “Okay, Daddy,” was all Kendall had said because she hadn’t wanted to dampen the joy that sprang from her father. But she had no desire to meet the woman who had broken her mother’s heart and her offspring who were very likely going to give her sister the opportunity to become her husband’s second wife.

  “Kendall?”

  She glanced toward the side of her house. And there he was, the man who had taken up residency, along with her sister, in her mind.

  “I rang the doorbell.” Anthony eyed her. Frowned as he took in her bathrobe. “I went to the office and Janet told me you were home. You all right?”

  “I’ve taken a couple of days off,” she said, without moving. When he sat, she thought about offering him a cup of tea, but discarded that quickly. She didn’t want him to feel like he was at home. “I’m taking a minivacation,” she added.

  “Never known you to do that.”

  “It’s a new day.” She sipped more tea. “How’s Sabrina?”

  The mention of her sister’s name made his face warm. And that made her blood cold.

  “Sabrina’s fine. It’s been emotional for her, meeting this other side of her family. But overall, it’s been good. We’ll get the blood-test results tomorrow.” He paused. “We’re all hopeful.” A massive wave slammed against the shore sending mist their way. “I came here to thank you,” he said, wiping the ocean’s tears from his face. “Thank you for finding Sabrina’s mother.”

  “Don’t know why you’re thanking me. I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

  He tilted his head. “What’s that about, Kendall? We know you hired Mr. Quimby.”

  She wondered if she could ask for some of her money back since Mr. Quimby hadn’t done a good enough job of keeping her secret. “I don’t know any Mr. Quimby. And like I said, I didn’t do anything.” She placed her cup on the table. “But if I had, I would do it this way. Because this was about doing the right thing—not about kissing and making up.” She shrugged again. “But it’s no biggie, because I didn’t do anything.”

  He nodded, then followed her gaze to the ocean—this view that they’d shared so many times before.

  She said, “I guess this means you and Sabrina will be getting married soon.”

  He paused before he said, “Yes, no matter which way this goes, we don’t want to waste any more time.”

  She nodded.

  More silence, until he asked, “Any chance you’ll come to the wedding?”

  She chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Yeah, maybe. A little.” Then, “I really wish you would come.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve already attended one wedding with you.” She stopped, swallowed her pride, asked, “So, what do you think went wrong with our wedding?”

  “The wedding part—Cancún with you was one of the best times of my life.”

  “It was just the times after that weren’t good.” She stated her question.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. I loved you; I still do, in a way.”

  “Don’t tell Sabrina. That alone might kill her.” His frown made her say, “Just kidding.”

  After a moment, he said, “I think you and I both knew we weren’t really compatible.”

  She shrugged. “I thought we were. I’d only told you a little bit about my idea for the business at that networking party, and I saw love in your eyes after the second glass of wine.”

  He chuckled. “It wasn’t the wine. I loved you. I loved how smart you were. You talked about your idea for The Woman’s Place, with such conviction. You were committed, ambitious, determined. I was impressed.” He paused. “I loved what was between your ears.”

  “Is that all?”

  They looked at each other for a moment, then shared a long laugh.

  He said, “Okay, I loved that, too.”

  “All the things about me that you loved. But you were never in love…with me.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t know the difference until I met your sister.” When she winced, he said, “We don’t need to talk about this.”

  “No, I want to know.” She paused, and added with a smile, “In case I fall in love again.”

  He chuckled. “I fell in love with Sabrina the moment I met her.”

  “Ouch!” Then, she said, “Go on.”

  “I don’t know what it was. And I tried to stay away from her. But I could tell, she felt it too. That was when I learned that you can’t help whom you love.”

  Kendall nodded.

  “But I’m telling you, Kendall, nothing ever happened between us before that night. And I’m so sorry about that.”

  “No, you’re not!” She held up her hand, stopping his protest. “I’m not mad anymore. I just want you to tell the truth. You’re not sorry that happened because that’s what freed you from me.”

  “I am sorry about the way it happened. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  “Because you loved me, right?”

  “You may not believe that, but it’s true.”

  She wrapped her hands around the cup, now cold, her tea, now iced. “I believe you.”

  “And Sabrina…”

  She shook her head, stopping him. “Don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

  “Sometimes it sounds as if you’ve almost forgiven me. But not your sister.”

  She raised her eyebrows, and without words, asked him how he could say that after what she’d done.

  He sighed. “I don’t get you, Kendall.”

  Slowly, she stood. “The good thing is, you don’t have to get me anymore.”

  He pushed himself up. “Still, I thank you.”

  She folded her arms, stared at the sea. Inhaled. She loved that fragrance. And then when she faced her ex, she realized it was his scent that she’d breathed in.

  “We need to get working on my buying your interest in my company,” she said.

  He bowed his head a bit. “Maybe I’ll just give it to you.”

  She raised her eyebrows.

  He said, “As a wedding gift.”

  She didn’t want to, but she smiled. “I have a gift for you, too.”

  He waited while she paused.

  “You give me the business, and I’ll give you this house.”

  His eyes widened.

  She said, “As a wedding gift.”

  “I…don’t…know,” he stammered. “I have to check with Sabrina.”

  “Don’t worry, she’ll agree. With you, this house, she’ll have everything that was once important to me.”

  He shook his head.

  She shrugged. “I’m fine with it.”

  Slowly, he leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t resist. Just stayed in that place. With him.

  He kissed her forehead and then disappeared around the side of the house, back the way he came.

  Kendall turned to the ocean. This was the only part that she hated letting go. But maybe she’d find a new house. With a bigger ocean. And a better man.

  Maybe.

  Maybe not.

  But whatever, she was ready to let go now. Let go, so that she could make new connections.

  Chapter Eighty-three

  ASIA

  Asia didn’t have a master plan. Not this time.

  But she was counting on curiosity, a woman’s inquisitiveness to make this happen.

  She glanced at the clock. Bobby was sure to be gone by now. She took a breath before she dialed the number. Of course they had caller ID and she prayed that would be enough to make Caroline answer.

  “Hel
lo.”

  It worked; she heard Caroline’s questions even in her greeting.

  “Caroline, this is Asia Ingrum.”

  “I know who it is. I only answered because I cannot believe you’re calling my home.”

  “I’m not calling to make trouble.”

  “I find that hard to believe since that seems to be what you’re best at.”

  Asia swallowed. “All I want is a moment of your time—to talk to you.”

  “There’s nothing for us to talk about. Anything you have to say should be done through our attorney.”

  “Caroline”—Asia closed her eyes and gathered her courage—“I’m begging you. I need to speak to you. Please, if not for me, for my daughter.”

  In the silence that followed, Asia prayed. And prayed. And Caroline said, “I’ll see you. But only because I’m curious.”

  Asia breathed. Prayer number one: answered. “Thank you. I’ll meet you wherever you want.”

  “Come here,” she said as if she were talking to a child. “I don’t have time to run all over this city.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “Be here in an hour. If you’re late, the meeting is off.”

  Asia gently returned the phone to its place. There wasn’t a person in the world who could have convinced her that she would have ever allowed any woman to talk to her that way.

  But she’d never faced losing her child. And that made her willing to do whatever. Even if it meant that the mistress had to bow down to the wife.

  She’d been waiting for more than twenty minutes; Asia knew that was a ploy. But Caroline’s trick gave her time to pray.

  She’d been saying the same prayer since she’d left home. She appealed for strength. Help to handle this. Not the custody battle that brewed, but the power she’d need to face Bobby’s wife. With humility. And right now, the only place she could get that was from God.

  “Asia, I don’t have a lot of time,” Caroline said as she swept into the room. “What is it that you want?”

  Today she was dressed in a navy linen capri pants set, looking younger than last time. Her hair, still pulled back, but in a ponytail. Stylish. Still regal.

  Asia had purposely worn jeans, with a simple sleeveless shirt. And she left every diamond she owned at home.

  “Thank you for seeing me.”

  Caroline didn’t move. Just stood as if she were waiting for Asia to fall to her knees.

  “I wanted to see you about Bobby. He’s upset with me.”

  “As he should be. What you did to turn…his daughter against him is despicable.”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  Caroline frowned, as if she’d expected more than that lie.

  “It’s against the law to do something like that,” Asia continued.

  “Am I supposed to believe that laws and morals matter to you?”

  This is about Angel, Asia told herself when her thoughts turned to beating Caroline down. “I wouldn’t turn my daughter against her father,” she said quietly, wishing that had been true. “I grew up not knowing my father…and without my mother. I wouldn’t wish that life on the child I love.”

  It wasn’t a slam dunk, but Asia saw that she scored some points.

  “I’m coming to you, Caroline,” she stopped. It wasn’t in her plan to cry. No need to show weakness. But the thought of losing Angel made everything inside of her shake. “I’m coming to you because…I need you. I can fight Bobby and from what my lawyer tells me, there is little chance I’ll lose Angel.” At least that was what she prayed a lawyer would say.

  “I’m not so sure of that, Asia. The courts don’t look kindly on one parent alienating a child against the other parent.”

  “I didn’t do that. But now, it’s beyond that. It’s about Angel. You and Bobby are talking about taking a five-year-old child from the only home she’s known.”

  “She knows her father.”

  Asia didn’t know how, but she could tell that she’d scored again. This time it was Caroline who spoke softly, lowered her head a bit.

  “Yes, she knows Bobby, and she loves him. But she’s lived with me,” she said. “A fight in court will tear Angel apart.”

  More points scored.

  Asia said, “I don’t want anything more to happen between Angel and Bobby. I want that relationship repaired, I want it to grow.”

  Now there was more in Caroline’s eyes, something beyond the contempt that was always there.

  But Asia didn’t know what was left to say. Her head told her just to tell Caroline that she was jealous. That she just wanted to take her child away because she and Bobby—for reasons Asia never knew—didn’t have a child.

  But her heart made her ignore her head. Made her speak from the place where God lived. “I’ve made so many mistakes, Caroline. One of them was getting involved with your husband.” She took a step closer to the wife. “When I met him, and found out he was married, I tried to walk away.”

  Caroline smirked, but Asia continued. “But I was an eighteen-year-old girl who had never been more than twenty miles from Compton. Bobby swept me off my feet and never let me go. In the years that I was with him, I never touched the ground. That’s an excuse, but it’s the truth. And that’s over now. But in the middle of that chaos, I was blessed with a miracle.”

  Caroline nodded slightly, but Asia didn’t care about the points anymore.

  Asia said, “I know God brought Angel into my life. Not just mine, she’s here for Bobby too.” She paused, added, “She’s here for you, too.” She couldn’t hold back the air that caught in her throat, making her sound like she was sobbing. “That’s hard for me to admit, but I understand now. I understand a lot more than I did even a month ago.”

  When Caroline didn’t move, Asia picked up her purse. “I pray to God that you’ll forgive me, that Bobby will forgive me, and that we can move on.”

  Asia had never seen Caroline’s genuine smile. And still she didn’t. But gone was the constant scorn that she wore.

  “I’m going to keep praying,” Asia said before she moved toward the entryway.

  Asia’s hand was already on the doorknob when Caroline said, “What is it exactly that you want from me?”

  Slowly, Asia turned and faced the woman she’d called an enemy, now the only person who could get Bobby to change his mind. Asia looked at her—gray eyes met hazel ones. “Please, talk to Bobby, tell him to drop this custody petition.”

  Caroline shook her head.

  “Stop the fight before it begins, because, Caroline, I’m not giving up Angel. And while you and Bobby have more money, I’ll be fighting with love. And that means I’ll do anything to win.”

  “Threats aren’t going to make me want to help.”

  “I’m not threatening. I’m just telling the truth. I want the petition to drop so that Angel can love her father again.”

  When Caroline said nothing more, Asia turned back toward the door. “Thank you for your time.”

  Before she stepped outside, Caroline spoke the words that Asia had come to hear: “I’ll talk to Bobby.”

  Without turning back, Asia smiled, and simply closed the door.

  Chapter Eighty-four

  KENDALL, SHERIDAN, AND ASIA

  Two things Kendall could not believe. First was that the home Vanessa had grown up in was two blocks away from where she’d lived. And second was that she’d actually allowed Sheridan to talk her into doing this.

  “Come on, girl,” Sheridan had said yesterday, “this is the first time you’ve answered your phone in months! So you know we want to see you.”

  “Months? Slight exaggeration, Sheridan.”

  “Sue me. But before you go to court, come with me and Asia to visit Vanessa’s mom. She’s doing better, but Pastor said that seeing us will go a long way.”

  “Can’t do that,” she’d said the first time, the third time, the fifth time. By the tenth time, they’d reached a compromise. “I’ll meet you guys at the restaurant.”

>   But for a reason she couldn’t explain, she sat here now, waiting outside Vanessa’s mother’s house. And already she regretted it all—coming here, letting Sheridan talk her into this.

  But she smiled a bit when she thought about seeing her prayer partners. They were the first women she’d connected with in a long time.

  She heard laughter and watched Sheridan and Asia hug a woman; there was no doubt she was Vanessa’s mother. She was about Vanessa’s height, her silver hair was curled in the same tight style that Vanessa wore. And she had on one of those hideous flowered dresses.

  Kendall peered at her friends as they waved, and then arm in arm, the two strolled toward Sheridan’s car.

  With a breath, Kendall jumped from her Jeep and sauntered toward them.

  “Kendall!”

  They accosted her with hugs as if years had passed since they were together.

  “Hold up! What did you do to your hair, girlfriend?”

  Kendall ran her hand over her slick, short style. “I needed something different.”

  “Hmph. You must have been going through a lot to cut off your hair.”

  “You could say that.”

  Sheridan said, “You’re still going with us to lunch, right?”

  Kendall nodded.

  “Great,” Sheridan said and took one of Kendall’s arms while Asia took the other. “Ride with me and Asia so that we can talk. I’ll bring you back for your car.”

  “So, what’s been going on, ladies?” Kendall asked when they were settled in the SUV.

  “Well…” Sheridan put the key in the ignition, but didn’t turn over the engine. “I was going to wait until we got to the restaurant, but…” She lifted her left hand from her lap. The marquis diamond sparkled like lightning.

  Kendall and Asia squealed.

  “Dang!” Asia exclaimed. “I didn’t see that when we were in Mrs. Fowler’s house. And you know I don’t be missing no diamonds. Where did you get that?”

  “It’s an engagement ring.”

  “You’re getting married?” Kendall asked, as she stretched forward to get a better look. “Your man asked you to marry him?”

  “Hold up.” There was silence. And then, with a grin, Asia asked, “Which one did you choose?”