Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,26

for his?

Nope, she has her own career. She works for an advice column called Ask Ida.

I sit back and tap my fingers on the desktop. An advice column. Does she give the advice, or does this Ida person write it? Is Ida real?

My finger has a life of its own as it taps the Need Advice? button. A white box pops up.

I chew on my lip. I can’t possibly think writing to an advice column will do any good. They probably get so many queries that they can’t or don’t answer them all.

Still, it can’t hurt to write out the conflicting thoughts in my head to a neutral party that doesn’t know either of us.

Dear Ida,

I divorced my workaholic husband, but we have two kids. I recently went through a family emergency and he’s been a rock. He’s even staying with me to help out. And he’s actually taking time off work to do it.

We kissed once and I made it clear that it was over between us. But what if it’s not? I think we’re both starting to wonder if we can make it work if we try again. I can’t help but feel like his career would still be his wife and I’ll only be the mistress. He’s a good guy or this wouldn’t be so hard.

I signed it Eligible Ex-wife and left my email for a reply.

My face is hot and I press my hands against my cheeks. I take some deep breaths to slow down the pounding of my heart. I wrote a letter to someone who doesn’t know me. My email doesn’t have my full last name, but I feel as exposed as if I strolled through the streets naked.

Okay, I have to work.

I pull up my ad and tweak it, then make some copies to adjust them for individual ad platforms. I puff out a breath. The rest of my to-do list doesn’t excite me and since I’m emotionally off-kilter, I pick a fun task.

Design a logo.

I haven’t stretched my graphics skills in years. An hour has passed when my computer dings. I have an email. Ignoring it, I keep working until I see Ask Ida flash at the top of my screen.

A reply? Already? They’re only an hour ahead in New York, but it’s still late.

Some poor intern is likely assigned to my email, but at least I’m getting a reply instead of seeing it posted on their site.

I pull up their message.

Dear Eligible Ex-wife,

Go with your gut. And by that, I mean your intuition, not the part of you that gets all tingly when he’s in the room. Just like women know when their man is cheating and won’t change, they know when their guy makes work their identity over being a husband or dad.

Ida.

I reread the message. Then read it again.

Go with my gut.

My common sense tells me he doesn’t understand the base of the divorce in the first place. Those parts Ida mentioned absolutely tingle whenever he’s around. My hopes are that last week and this week mean something major has shifted inside of him. My heart wants it to be true.

My gut tells me he hasn’t changed.

Simon

“Mr. Waterson wants to be updated on his portfolio.” Helena lists another item on her never-ending to-do list. She doesn’t even bother to sit down in my office, but hovers in the doorway like she’s going to make a run for it.

I look at the time. It’s almost six-thirty. I’ve managed to get home to give Natalie alone time by seven each night but one. But every day it’s a juggle. Right as I want to walk out the door, Helena flags me down. I hoped Friday would be different.

“Can you review it and give him a call back?” I scribble a note down to follow-up on an earlier meeting with a client.

“He expressly said he wants you to review his file and be the one to call him back.”

Fucking misogynistic prick. Mr. Waterson and I aren’t buds. There’s no reason he should insist on only me. I never lose my composure in front of staff, so I hold in my insult. “Fine. Pull up his profile.”

“Done. There’s also a message from Dan Lancaster.”

I can guess Lancaster spent the day on the greens with his buddies and is coming at me with horrible investing ideas. Helena’s gotten good at assuaging his concerns. “I’ll give Mr. Waterson a call. You can take Lancaster and then we can both get out of here.”

Her mouth tightens