Love Letters From the Grave(53)

‘Thirdly,’ he said, passing her a copy of another set of papers, ‘on the first business day after the granting of the divorce, an account will be set up in your name containing enough money to buy a house for yourself – and Charlie. He’ll need to divert his own earnings to Muriel and the children, and I won’t have my ex-wife living in anything less than the manner to which she’s become accustomed.’

‘George, it’s too much,’ Molly protested, but George held up a hand.

‘I didn’t want this,’ he said gently, ‘but if it has to happen, I want it to be civilized and straightforward. I want to make sure there’s every opportunity for us to remain close afterwards. So much so that I’ve asked Gerald if he’ll handle Charlie and Muriel’s divorce if they want that. I’ll pay the costs.’

With the same sad smile that had ghosted his features for days, George handed Molly a folder to put her copies in. She took it, and then sat down on George’s lap, giving him a loving hug and kiss. ‘I’m so grateful, George. For everything.’

He pushed her away before too long. ‘And how is Charlie’s divorce progressing?’ he ventured, as civil as any divorcing Vice President could be.

Molly didn’t have the heart to tell him that she had no idea, not of how it was going, or even if it was going ahead.

‘Don’t torture yourself,’ she told George instead.

If anyone should be torturing themselves, it was her.

One way to do it would be visiting her father, and letting him know what had gone on. She steeled herself for the uproar, and began to drive slowly toward her father’s house.

But suddenly there he was, on the sidewalk near her home, obviously building himself up to knock on her door.

The car slowed to a halt beside him.

‘Charlie,’ she cried.

He flung open the door and dragged her to him. ‘You weren’t at work! I went in to tell you what happened, and you weren’t there.’

‘Muriel had the baby,’ she said as he rained kisses on her face and neck.

‘Yes, and she agreed to a divorce.’ Charlie stood back to watch her face as the news sank in. ‘Amazing, isn’t it? I think she’s been seeing someone else – a doctor. She wanted it more than me. Faster than me.’

‘Oh, Charlie, that’s staggering.’

‘So we … will you be brave, my darling, and talk to George?’

Molly laughed. ‘I already have! I didn’t know that you’d done it though. I’ve been so frightened. I was just driving to my father’s to throw myself on his mercy.’

‘And … did George agree?’

Molly nodded, and Charlie yanked her straight out of the car, yelling and spinning her around on the sidewalk until she was dizzy with joy.

Then she sat him down in the passenger seat of her car and told him how much George had just agreed to do for her. For them.

Charlie looked close to crying. ‘I’ve known some good men in my life, Molly. Mr Adams, my attorney. Warden Kelly. All the priests who’ve guided me. But George is a saint. God really has been guiding us, and I know he’ll continue to watch over us for the rest of our lives together. Our marriage,’ he said, grasping her hand, ‘will be made in heaven.’

‘And what about Muriel and the children?’

Charlie tapped the dashboard thoughtfully, then smiled at Molly. ‘I have an idea, if you’re agreeable …’



Charlie’s divorce proceedings had hit a snag, so he and Muriel had lined up an appointment with their attorney that Saturday morning. The lawyer had contacted Muriel, telling her that the judge would require signed papers from Charlie, guaranteeing a reasonable level of support from him for Muriel and the children. She’d explained that she was happy with the arrangement, but the attorney had insisted.

Armed with his new information, Charlie and Muriel marched into the attorney’s office on the Saturday morning, and Charlie took the floor, almost as he remembered Mr Adams doing all those years ago.

‘I don’t know who you think you are, Mr Cranhorn, to be meddling with these arrangements.’ Charlie slapped the envelope in his hand with the back of the other. ‘Muriel gave you specific instructions about our divorce which you have failed to follow. You have no business taking it on your own head to proceed without getting permission from us.’

Cranhorn rocked back in his chair. ‘Now, see here, it’s my responsibility to determine how the judge might rule on the case, and make sure it’s strong enough to ensure it will be approved. I concur that I should have obtained your permission before instructing your wife as I did, but I did so with good reason.’

‘So how did you determine what the court will require from me?’

‘Based on my experiences in previous cases.’ The attorney was flushed, but still looking self-assured.

Muriel then spoke up. ‘We wanted this sorted quickly. You’ve had this for over two weeks, and there’s still no sign of it being filed any time soon.’

‘That’s right,’ said Charlie, suddenly thinking of something. ‘And I bet for every day that passes, you’re charging us more.’

The attorney turned an even deeper shade of crimson. ‘You don’t understand what this work entails …’ he started feebly.