Mrs. Miracle 01 - Mrs. Miracle(45)

“You want this, Sharon?”

She didn’t. Had never dreamed that this calamity would befall them. She’d assumed their marriage was safe. They’d lived, loved, and grieved together, but somewhere along the way they’d stopped trying, stopped communicating. He had an entire life that had nothing to do with her, and the same applied to her.

That this would happen to them now was one of life’s cruel jokes; only she wasn’t laughing, and neither was Jerry. She hadn’t reached the decision lightly. This was quite possibly the most difficult thing she’d ever done, with the exception of burying her daughter.

“I know you’ve tried to make this work,” she said, avoiding his question. “So have I.”

“Is a divorce what you want?” he asked again, a bit louder.

She remembered the way her heart had leapt when she saw that he’d come for her, and she buried that small shred of joy in the deepest part of her soul.

“Do you?” he pressed, his gaze holding hers.

“Yes,” she whispered brokenly.

Jerry sagged against the back of the chair. “I never thought this would happen to us.”

“Me either,” she admitted sadly.

“Do you have an attorney yet?”

She shook her head. “I want this to be as amicable as possible.”

He nodded. “It’ll take work on both our parts.”

It hurt that he was so damned agreeable. While it was true she was the one who’d asked for the divorce, she’d hoped he’d fight to save their marriage. Her pride would have preferred for him to put up some resistance, even if it was only token. After a forty-year investment one would think he’d want to try harder.

At first she’d prayed he wouldn’t. It would be easier on both of them if he accepted her decision calmly. The reality of that was quite different. Sharon was grateful she was seated. His fine-if-this-is-what-you-want attitude left her feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from under her. Her emotions spiraled downward, crashing, taking what remained of her pride.

“We had some good years.” If he wouldn’t mention those, she would.

“Some great years and some not so great.”

She wondered if he was remembering the year Pamela had died, or if his mind was dwelling on the last twelve months, when they didn’t seem to have anything in common any longer.

“Do you want to break the news to the kids now?” Jerry asked.

He made it sound as though they should run to the phone and call their sons and announce it with great ceremony. Sharon dreaded telling her sons more than she did Jerry. They were both responsible adults, but it would hit them hard, rock their foundation, and she’d have liked to spare them that.

“I’d prefer to wait until after Christmas,” she said, hoping he was agreeable to that. She could see no reason to ruin everyone else’s holiday.

He nodded. “All right, if that’s what you want.”

After weeks of not having a civil word to say to her, he’d become amicable overnight. She bit her tongue to keep from saying so.

“It’s going to come as something of a shock to Clay and Neal,” her husband murmured, saying what she’d been thinking moments earlier.

Although she’d been the one to request the divorce, it came as a shock to her as well.

A terrible sadness settled over her. The last time she’d experienced anything this heavy, this debilitating, had been shortly after the news of Pamela’s car accident. As it had then, it felt now as if her heart would never heal.

“Would you mind terribly if I stayed and spent Christmas with Seth and the twins?” Before she could answer, he rushed to add as if he needed to convince her, “Seeing that I’m already here and all.”

The tightness in her throat made it difficult to answer with words, so she nodded.

“We can get along that long, can’t we?”

“I’m sure we can,” Sharon managed. “If we’re both on our best behavior.”

The silence was back, less strained this time. Having reached an agreement, even one that set the terms of the dissolution of their marriage, produced a certain accord. The irony of it didn’t escape Sharon.

With some hesitation Seth stepped into the room and glanced from one to the other. “Is everything okay between you two, or do you need more time?”

“Everything’s fine,” Jerry lied, answering for them both. Sharon was grateful he did; she wasn’t sure she could have sounded nearly as convincing.

“You’ll be staying on for the holidays, then?” Seth directed the question to Jerry.

“If it’s not a problem?”

“None. It’ll be good to have you.”

Unable to deal with the small talk, Sharon stood abruptly. “I’ve had a full day. I hope you’ll both excuse me.” She faked a yawn. “I can’t believe how tired I am.”

“Sure, honey,” Jerry said, sounding as if there weren’t a thing wrong with the world.

“By all means, Sharon,” Seth added. “Thanks for all your help with the twins’ costumes.”

“It was a pleasure.”

“Sit down,” Jerry invited his son-in-law, “and tell me how everything’s going with you and the kids.”