Between Clouds and Closure

Empty Threats and Jolly Ranchers

Tapping my fingers impatiently on the table in front of me, I waited for Adam to arrive. It was uncharacteristic of him to be late, but I'd been sitting for the past twenty three minutes and my patience was running out. Fishing for my phone in my bag to call him, my head snapped up mid search as I heard the jingle of the bell on the door as someone walked in. Clad in a dark grey suit and a brown leather suitcase in his hand, I watched my soon to be ex husband as he strolled into the restaurant.

Unprepared for the flutter of emotions swarming through my mind, I watched as he made his way towards me. I hadn't seen him physically since I left California over ten months ago when I'd filed for divorce. He looked devastatingly handsome, as always. A part of me had wished he'd suffered a similar fate as I did, during the course of this divorce. But he somehow looked better than ever, aging like fine wine.

Pulling out the seat across me, he settled into it, placing his suitcase on the adjacent seat.
"You're late", I bit out more forcefully than I'd intended. It was probably because I was annoyed at myself for checking him out and being affected by him.
"Sorry love, I got caught up in traffic."
"Don't do that, call me love like we're still together, don't! Especially not after you arrive very late to a meeting that you proposed," I snapped.
"I'm sorry," he said, solemnly. "Have you ordered?"
"No, I'm not here to dine with you, Adam. What do you want?"
"I wanted to talk."
" I figured that much, what about?" I asked, hotly.
"About our divorce. Are you sure you still want to go through with it?"

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "Where the hell is this coming from Adam? Our court hearing is two days away. What are you talking about?"
"I'm just asking if you're sure it's still what you want." he replied instead, ignoring my questions.
"Of course I'm sure, I've had almost a year to be sure, no thanks to you for dragging it out. You cheated on me in our home and verbally assaulted me by calling me a slut even though I was nothing but faithful to you. So, yes, Adam, I'm a hundred percent sure I'm done with you." I finished my rant, hating how my voice broke at the end.
"Alright then," was all he said, watching me with an undecipherable look in his eyes.
"Would that be all? Cause I'd very much like to leave now."
"Yeah."

Deciding that this had been a total waste of time after all, I snatched my purse from the table and proceeded to walk out. As I was about to pass by him, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, what the h...
"What are you doing? Let me go,"
"I love you," he said, looking up at me.
I was visibly taken aback. "Screw you, Adam!" I snarled, yanking my hand free.

Redness was beginning to cloud my vision. Who the hell did he think he was throwing that word around like that? I was still walking away, when I felt a hand reach out to grab my elbow.
"Ava, wait, please," I heard his familiar voice before I turned around. I didn't know if it was the anger I had buried all this while unexpressed but something inside me snapped and as I swung around, so did my other hand and it landed firmly on his face.

He appeared stunned but didn't let go of my elbow and I shrugged his arm off when I noticed. Nodding he said, "I deserved that." placing his hand on his now reddening cheek.

"If this is some kind of sick joke to spice up your miserable life, I will have no part in it."

"It's not a joke Ava, I love you, I never stopped. I messed up really bad but we don't have to go ahead with the hearing, we can go back inside and talk it through. I can't take back the things I said or did, but I want to make it up to you. I can only do that, if you let me."

I barked a humorless laugh at that, "You sound stupid, Adam. Don't you think it's too late to be spewing lies? You really think you can manipulate me into calling it off? How stupid do you think I am?"

He had the effrontery to look hurt. "I mean it, Ava". I looked around and saw people were staring. I hated attention but I was not going back into the restaurant with him. I didn't have anything else to say to him. I was moving on with the divorce and my life.
"See you on Friday, Adam." I said, turning to walk away but when he tried to grab my hand, he grabbed my purse instead. It fell to the ground, some of its content spilling. I groaned and bent down to pick it up. He bent in front of me and started helping me gather my things. "I've got it." I snapped but he kept picking up some of the things that have fallen a little farther than my hands could reach from where I was bending.

"Who the hell is Bryce?" His cold voice came a couple seconds later from where he was now standing . I looked to him so fast, it was little wonder my neck didn't snap. His face had hardened and he was glaring at me. I could make out a small card in his hand and I realised it was the card Bryce had given me the day I met him on the plane.

Standing up so fast that blood rushed to my head, I made to snatch the card from him but he sidestepped me.
"Answer the damn question, Ava."
Realising I was acting suspicious, I straightened and tried to keep a rein on the fear that was nagging at me. If I gave Adam any reason to think I had been anything but faithful, he could call off the entire thing just as my sister had warned.

"He's a friend," I replied coolly.
"Are you you sleeping with him?"
I jerked back as if he had slapped me.
"I asked you a question," he said impatiently, when I didn't answer immediately.
"No, I'm not sleeping with him." I bit out.
"How long has this been going on?" He asked, his hard stare boring into me like he didn't hear what I said.

" I just told you, he's a friend. Now, hand it over." I stretched my hand out for the card but he ignored it.
"Is that what you call your clients? I bet this has been going on way before you even filed for divorce. You sl..."
I didn't wait for the words to be out of his mouth before I slapped him again, harder this time.
"Don't you dare! Don't you ever talk to me like that, ever, you cheating piece of shit!" I seethed,  I was so done with people calling me names, the left over anger from my sister doing the same, still apparent.

I bent to pick up my purse that lay forgotten on the floor the moment he had mentioned Bryce. I was so done with people calling me names, the left over anger from my sister doing the same, still apparent.

" I can make your life a living hell, Ava. Just tell me, how long you've been sleeping with him. I could tell the judge you cheated first and I felt neglected, so, I sought comfort from someone else. She'd review the divorce and trust me, it wouldn't be in your favour. I can also show her this, tell her you were abusive." he smirked, touching his now reddened cheek and as I stared at him, I found no trace of the husband I married behind his cold calculating gaze.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked and I despised the way my voice sounded so weak. I harshly wiped away the single tear that had managed to fall.

"Because, darling Ava, all is fair in love and war. Plus, if I can't have you, no one can."
Rolling my eyes at this, I replied, "Be more original Adam, that's the oldest line in the book. Besides, you don't want me, you just don't want me to have your precious millions. Here's good news, you can keep your money. I never needed it anyway. I will be seeing you in court in two days. And don't try to mess with me, you forget I have a sister with a high social standing and with way more experience than you," I said, turning to walk away.

I could tell he was grasping at straws when he blurted " A little birdie told me that you quit your job and you're venturing into psychology. The only reason I ever cheated was because you were never home. We can still make this work."
Freezing in my tracks but not looking back, because I didn't want to give him the satisfaction. I knew he must have spoken to my sister because that was the only way he'd have known that, my sister was the only person I had told. He was delusional though, if he thought I could ever take him back after his outburst and threats. Not that I'd wanted to.
"2pm on Friday, Adam, don't be late." was all I said as I stalked off hearing the crunch of a jolly rancher I must have missed when I was packing my purse and ignored the stares I was getting from the audience that had gathered to watch our fight.