Reluctant Souls

Did you read the fine print?

—53

"Please have a seat. So, how may we help you?" said Mr. Ruiz. He was an older lawyer in a gray suit.

Gabi took a seat at a large table.

"He's called me nonstop, leaving messages, won't leave me alone. He wants to have sex. There's no telling what he'll do."

Mrs. Thoreau Esquire took a seat at the table, "Okay, who's this perv?"

"Dallas," said Gabi.

"Is that his name?" asked Mrs. Thoreau.

"No. But that's what everyone calls him," she said.

"What's his actual name?"

"I don't know."

"He uses an alias," the woman said. "Typical criminal behavior."

"No, he's not a criminal," said Gabi.

The lawyer looked puzzled. "What is he to you? How does he know you?"

"I don't want to get into that, she said. "He's bothering me. I'm a mother. He can't contact me."

"Yes, but we have to have information," Mrs. Thoreau said.

"If we take him to court, he'll defend himself. Do I have to remind you of that?" said Mr. Ruiz.

"We were friends once," said Gabi.

"Friends?" asked Mr. Ruiz.

"Okay, we were lovers."

"For how long?" asked Mrs. Thoreau.

"Twice," said Gabi.

"How long did you date him?" asked Mr. Ruiz.

"Two times," said Gabi.

"You saw him twice? Or...How should I say this without sounding intrusive...had relations?" said Mr. Ruiz.

Mrs. Thoreau frowned.

"Both," said Gabi.

"Two dates," said Mr. Ruiz.

Mrs. Thoreau's fingers tapped the table, "This doesn't matter. What was the extent of the relationship? Were you married at the time?"

"Does that matter?" Gabi wished she'd never started this conversation.

"Was he married?" asked Mr. Ruiz.

"Yes," said Gabi.

Mr. Ruiz scratched his chin.

"We met twice and then never again," she said.

"Okay. But what happened between you two?" asked Mrs. Thoreau cautiously.

"We met." Gabi took a deep breath. "We tried to divorce our spouses and marry each other."

The lawyers looked at each other.

"You mean you saw him twice...and from that, you tried to divorce your husband and marry him, and he did the same?" asked Mrs. Thoreau.

Gabi ran her hands through her hair.

Mr. Ruiz shook his head, "Sounds like a..."

"Don't say it," said Mrs. Thoreau.

"...must have been some kind of an affair," said Mr. Ruiz.

Gabi and Mrs. Thoreau's eyes met.

"Sorry. I can only imagine," said Mrs. Thoreau.

"This is going to be a tough case," said Mr. Ruiz.