Eligible Ex-Husband: A Hero Club Novel

by Marie Johnston

  I’d love to try it sometime. If only it was that simple.

  Natalie

  Peggy greets me with a giant hug. I can only return the embrace with one hand. Maddy clutches my other hand. Abby’s holding Simon’s.

  “It’s so good to see you again.” Sincerity pours out of her. Unlike a lot of Simon’s clients, what you see with Peggy is what you get. She cuts to the point but is tactful, is unashamed about her love of money and numbers and how to grow them bigger, and she enjoys life.

  “I’m happy this worked out.”

  Peggy steps back to ooh and ahh over Abby and Maddy. “Look at you two. Little holograms of your parents. Look one way and you resemble your dad, look another way and it’s your mom.”

  Maddy’s nose scrunches at the hologram part, but she likes being on the receiving end of gushing.

  Simon introduces them. “I know you haven’t seen them since they were babies.”

  “And what cute babies you both were.” She waves us in. “Leave your shoes on, we’ll go right out to the pool. Dan has everything set up to grill and we have the misters going to beat the heat away.”

  I always forget that Lancaster’s first name is Dan. He said he went by Dan all his life until he met Peggy. Her first husband was also named Dan, so her family called Lancaster by his last name. It stuck.

  We follow Peggy through the house. Unlike the cream stucco exterior, the inside is a colorful mix of family photos, trinkets that were clearly made by someone under ten, and travel souvenirs. The Lancasters are doing retirement right. This is the first major trip that Simon and I have taken. Ever. For our honeymoon, we were moving from Wharton University to Fargo. After that, we had a fledgling business.

  We’d talked about it. Constantly. During the summer when we couldn’t afford to go anywhere farther than our backyard, we’d sit on the porch and sip a beer, daydreaming about all the places we’d go. Then we bought the house, knowing full well that it was our vacation home and holiday home wrapped in one family home. We chose roots over wandering, but we never quit thinking that one day we’d reach a point where we covered mortgage payments and had enough to take the kids around the world.

  That wasn’t going to happen on one income. Simon’s income. My house was paid off thanks to the divorce. I know Simon has plans for their college fund, and my pride says that if we’re flying somewhere for nothing but fun, I’m going to earn it. We won’t be cruising on Simon’s dime.

  He’s not the only one who wants to prove himself in the world.

  We step out the sliding doors to the back patio. I expect a wave of heat, but the shade cover is deep and clouds of cool mist hover between me and the water. The pool’s inviting glitter takes my mind off the temperature.

  “Nat,” Lancaster greets me warmly and folds me into a hug.

  “Thanks for the invite.”

  “When I heard you were in town, I knew both Peggy and I wouldn’t want to miss you. It was generous of your husband to fly out and humor this old guy.”

  I grin, suspecting half the reason Lancaster was so insistent was because he missed the hour-long appointments and long lunches with Simon. I used to be a part of those, once upon a time.

  Peggy points out the bathroom and the pool toys and it’s no time before the girls jump into the pool and happily splash around. I don’t have to be on as high alert. The pool has a wide set of stairs and a solid railing to enter and exit the shallower end.

  Simon and Lancaster retreat to the grill that’s a little farther from the house but still shaded. Peggy sets out lemonade with ice and a tray of sugar cookies.

  I’m about to take a seat when Peggy whips her top off to reveal a sleek black bathing suit. “I hope you plan to swim as well. It didn’t get as hot out as the weatherman predicted.”

  I’d hate to know what that was. A swim sounds nice after a day of roaming the zoo. “I just might.” I packed my suit but didn’t plan to swim. I bring it as more of a precaution since Maddy’s often too short to touch the bottom, depending on the pool.

  “There’s a changing room inside. Just take a right. It’s the first door past the dining room.”

  I disappear inside and change and fight a case of nerves. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I head back out. Peggy’s towing Maddy on a floating lily pad and Abby’s showing Simon how she can flip in the water.

  He’s grinning when he glances my way. He does a double take and his smile fades as heat infuses his dark eyes. I’m wearing a tankini. It’s nothing terribly revealing. My arms are nothing like Aleah’s carved muscle and I still have the same post-childbirth pooch that I had the last time Simon and I were intimate.

  I can’t say since the last time he saw me naked because that was only a few weeks ago.

  I drop the multi-colored polka dot towel across a lounge chair and step into the water. It’s cool and refreshing. Thankfully, I put my hair in a tight bun this morning, and I dip in until my chin hits the surface.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell Simon’s still watching me. Lancaster is talking to him while waving his grill tongs, oblivious to the lack of attention.

  I cock a brow at Simon and flick my gaze to Lancaster as if to say pay attention to our host. But Simon’s eyes narrow slightly. He doubles down on his focus and my stomach flutters.

  I’m not going to win in an intense stare-off with him. I turn my back and glide toward Peggy and Maddy. Abby’s swimming around them now.

  Peggy releases Maddy’s lily pad to Abby and the girls play together. I stay crouched in the water next to Peggy.

  “I’m sorry to hear about the divorce,” she says so only I can hear. “It’s nice to see you two can be more than civil.”

  “Yeah.” It’s hard not to be way more than civil. Who knew that’d be my problem. A sigh escapes. “I wish…”

  “Don’t I know it.” Peggy surreptitiously glances at Lancaster and lowers her voice even more. “I served Dan with papers. A year after we were married.”

  My brows pop up. I’m friendly with the couple, but not to this level. “What happened? Or didn’t happen?”

  “His life was work. I don’t even know how he found time to date me and get married. But it wasn’t two months in that I realized everything his first wife said was true.” She chuckled. “Well, not all of it, but she was justifiably angry. It was a wake-up call for me. My first marriage dissolved because my ex felt neglected. I thought he was whining. I ate a lot of humble pie and tried to force-feed it to Dan.”

  “It must’ve worked.”

  “No. He thought I had the problem. So I moved out.”

  I could picture Peggy packing her bags, taking half the pantry and every piece of furniture she considered hers. “And that got to him.”

  “No.”

  I’m riveted to the story. It’s similar to my own, only Peggy and Lancaster obviously succeeded where we failed. “Then how…”

  She smiled, the memory clearly a fond one. “We met with the divorce lawyer, signed the papers, then as we’re leaving and my heart’s been trashed, his lawyer grins and looks him in the eye. I’m not even out of the room and he says ‘Call me when you get sick of wife number three.’”

  I sputter, shocked at the comment. “Rude.”

  “Oh, it pissed Dan off. But it also dawned on him that if he didn’t change, he was going to be alone with only a trail of broken hearts to show for it. He demanded the papers back, ripped them up and said to me ‘whatever it takes’. So we outlined rules—for both of us.” She lifts a shoulder. “And here we are.”

  I eye Simon. His hand is shoved in his pocket and he’s loosely holding a longneck beer in his other hand. He doesn’t notice me watching him, and I look away before he can catch me and get the wrong impression.

  Setting limits with Dan worked because it dawned on him exactly what was wrong and that he played an important role, both in causing it and fixing it. Simon hasn’t reached that stage and I don’t know that he can.

  I give Peggy a sad
smile. “I should’ve used your lawyer.”

  Chapter 11

  Simon

  “Dad, I’m bored.” Maddy’s on her stomach on my office floor. It’s Friday night and close to their bedtime. I had a long call and alternated between muting it and either bribing the girls with treats to stay quiet while I talked or threatening to tell their mother they didn’t behave and they’d lose out on activities.

  The last one was totally a bluff. Natalie would think it was my fault I had them at the office late. But I can’t expect clients who invest millions with me to work around my time zone. Their money means I’m at their beck and call.

  I type up notes and reminders for me and Helena to split a little work tomorrow so neither one of us is tied up all day on a Saturday. “Okay, we’re ready to go.”

  Maddy pops up, but Abby’s slow to roll off the floor. Her shoulders are slumped and her mouth is turned down like she tasted something awful.

  She presses a hand to her gut. “I don’t feel so good.”

  I’m about to tell her that we’ll go straight to my place when she doubles over and vomits. I leap for the trash can as Maddy backpedals toward the door.

  “Shit.” I didn’t mean to swear. “Dammit.” Still swearing. I shut up and thrust the can toward Abby. She hugs it and continues throwing up.

  The smell of rancid puke fills the air.

  Maddy jumps up and down, shaking her hands. “Ew.”

  “Wait out by Helena’s desk, Mads.” I roll the chair my clients use toward Abby. “Sit.”

  She nods, her chest heaving. I press a hand to her head. She’s not hot, but she’s clammy. “I’ll clean up the worst.” Then I’ll call Charlie to get our cleaning service in here to work their magic—and pay them extra.

  I’ve never been more grateful that I kept the original hardwood when I bought the space as I use all the paper towels from the restroom. I save some to wipe off my shoes and go into the hallway. The bank in the same building has long since closed, but there’s a public bathroom between my section and theirs. I steal all their paper towels and wet some down.

  As I’m cleaning the floor, Abby groans. “I want to go home.”

  “After I get this and bag up the trash, we’ll go back to my place. We can stop for some ginger ale and crackers.”

  She lets out another long moan. “No. I want to go home.”

  I don’t push it. She feels like shit and my place isn’t her home. I call Charlie with the SOS and then call Natalie.

  “Abby threw up and she wants to go home.”

  “Yeah, okay. Is she alright? How’s Maddy?”

  “So far so good, but this came on really sudden.” I make a note to grab an empty trash bag—make that two—for the ride to Natalie’s. “I’m almost done cleaning up here and then we’ll head out.”

  “Did she throw up on the furniture?”

  “No, we’re at the office.”

  “This late on a Friday?”

  I don’t respond. What can I say? It’s nine on a Friday night. This is how I party. This is how I’ve spent Fridays since I met Natalie.

  “Never mind. Just get her home. I’ll run a bath for her.”

  I load the girls. Maddy sits as close to her door as she possibly can, but she clutches a clean trash bag in her hand. Abby’s staring woodenly out the window, her face pale.

  As soon as I park in the driveway, Abby heaves into her bag. I rush out of the car and open the back door. I catch Maddy’s wide eyes. “Go inside and let Mom know we’re here.”

  She nods and scurries off, forgetting to shut her door. I unbuckle Abby. She’s retching and trying to catch her breath.

  “It’s okay, honey. I’ll carry you in.” I lift her out and adjust her slight weight. Natalie’s behind me when I turn.

  “There’s a bath waiting for her and a laundry basket outside the door for her clothes.” She wrinkles her nose. “And your clothes.”

  I smell like puke. My car smells like puke. My office will smell like puke until the morning. “Do you mind grabbing my gym bag? I’ll shower and change.”

  She does as I ask and closes and locks the car. Inside, we work as a team. She undresses Abby and I strip down and take our dirty laundry downstairs, including Maddy’s, who’s already in pajamas and snuggled into bed.

  I tuck my suit in a bag to go to the cleaners and start the washer. By the time I’m upstairs, Natalie’s getting Abby out of the tub.

  “Can I use your shower?” I call from outside the cracked open door.

  “Go ahead.”

  I want to tuck both girls in, even if Maddy’s already asleep, but I don’t want to leave the lingering smell of vomit in their room.

  Running through the shower, I use the products that remind me of my wife and how much I love her smell. The towel I use is achingly familiar. I bought some cheap towels when I first moved, lacking any sense whatsoever of what makes a good towel.

  I’m back in my shower, in my house, with sick kids. The sense of normalcy sneaks in like a siren’s call I’d gladly steer my ship toward. Only it’s temporary.

  Dressed in my gym shorts and a T-shirt, I go out to the living room. Natalie’s perched on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone. Her hair is unbound and in a messy halo. She’s got color in her face from spending time outdoors.

  The picture of her in her swimsuit has been stuck in my head all week. I’m confident I’ve never seen that suit. Nothing could distract me from the sight of her in it. Pale pink top and striped yellow and pink bottoms. Every freckle scattered over her shoulders has been long seared into my memory.

  Will this wanting ever end? If she’s done with me, it’s the cruelest punishment, but one I’m willing to bear. I haven’t given up on her, on us, but she needs more time than I thought. It’s only been weeks, but it’s enough to make me wonder if I’m on a fool’s mission. The only one not to know it’s doomed for failure.

  “Are they awake?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “Maddy’s out and Abby was asleep by the time I got back with the puke bucket.” The old silver basin that we scavenged while cleaning out her grandma’s place after the funeral is the designated puke bucket.

  “I’m glad we came here. I don’t think I’m prepared with even one bucket.”

  She smiles. “Good thing you had a gym bag.”

  I shove my hand through my wet hair. The living room clock says it’s almost ten. “I should get going. Let you get some rest.”

  She waves toward the guest room across from the girls’ room. “Go ahead and stay. They’d be gutted to miss their weekend with you.”

  “You mind? I’d hate to miss my weekend with them too.” I mean it. I had a weekend full of activities that they’ve already done over the years but that they never seem to tire of. The splash pad, and the place that’s like a science center and a playroom had a baby, and of course the zoo because there’s at least one stuffed animal I haven’t bought for them.

  Speaking of which. “If they’re feeling better tomorrow, I can take them back to my place. Or I’ll go grab their things.”

  “Maddy didn’t mention Pink Kitty, so she must’ve been tired.”

  I stand for a moment. Natalie looks around the living room. I felt like I was back at home in the bathroom, but now I’m a fish floundering onshore. “’Night, Natalie.”

  The corner of her mouth hitches up. “Goodnight, Simon.”

  I trudge up to the guest bedroom. The mission of winning my wife back is sinking terribly. I need to step up my game. If it was a start-up seeking investors, I’d pass on it without second thought. Not a chance that’ll earn any money, for me or them.

  But Natalie’s nothing like work. She’s more precious than any company I invest in, and I have no idea how I can win her back.

  Natalie

  A retching noise wakes me. I sit straight up, like a mummy coming to life, and blink.

  A light flips on across the house, the glow invading my room.

  Now I h
ear coughing.

  “Shit.” I vault out of bed and rush to the girls’ bedroom, glad I wore longer pajama shorts than the boy shorts I usually wear. My shirt is baggy, but I put on an old and worn sports bra that I can sleep comfortably in.

  Abby’s curled in the corner of her bottom bunk, moaning. Simon’s halfway up the ladder, holding the silver basin for Maddy.

  He looks at me, his face ashen. The smell is atrocious, but nothing we haven’t tackled before. We fall back into our the kids are sick roles. He lifts Maddy down and carries her to the bathroom. I strip her and wash her down while he gathers all of her bedding.

  He appears at the bathroom door with fresh pajamas and helps me dress her. The pile of dirty laundry grows. When Maddy’s in fresh clothes, Simon picks her up. She snuggles against his shoulder. The way he cradles her like he did with Abby yesterday, makes me pause. Seeing how excellent he is with them has always been a weak spot for me.

  I grab new sheets and make Maddy’s bed, finding an extra blanket. He tucks her in while I find another bucket.

  “I hope that’s the end,” he whispers as he steps off the bunk ladder.

  Then Abby moans and rolls over, searching for the silver basin. I dive for her and make it just in time. While I sit with her, Simon goes to the bathroom to get a washcloth.

  Once we get Abby cleaned and settled, and wash her bucket, Simon gathers up the laundry. It’s spilling over his arms and he’s going to need a shower. I’ll have to clean myself and wash up too.

  “I got this,” he says. “Go get some rest. We don’t know when it’ll hit again.”

  I puff hair out of my eyes. “Do you need something else to wear?” Unless he left clothes here, I don’t have much to offer. My baggiest clothes would be skintight on his tall, wide-shouldered frame.

  “I’ll dry the underclothes I wore under my suit while I shower. Don’t worry.” His smile is reassuring. “Rest. We might need it.”

  I wash up and change pajamas. Simon’s quiet, but my senses are attuned to him moving through the house. I hear the other shower kick on and off. He goes back downstairs, comes up, and then the door to his room closes.