The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,114

to a civil suit against his ex-wife to recoup some of his monetary losses. But Beau was exhausted. More lawyers and courts and lawsuits held zero appeal. He decided all he wanted was his freedom, at any price.

“That’s dangerous thinking,” Sonja told him. “Please don’t say that out loud.”

“Think she can find a way to make me pay more? More than sleepless nights for me and for Lauren and the boys?”

Deep in the dark of night Beau and Lauren whispered about it. They had thought their marriages were difficult and heartbreaking, not life-threatening. They had assumed their spouses would be selfish and greedy, not physically dangerous. Neither of them thought of themselves as cagey enough to get half of what they’d accrued in the marriage; neither was capable of really hurting someone for revenge or material wealth.

Beau just wanted to make the world beautiful. Lauren just wanted to live in peace and protect her family.

Beau found a way to make things better. At least once every week, depending on Lauren’s schedule, he stopped by the Emerson home and took her to a favorite park or garden for lunch. He knew the best hidden rooftop gardens, the most beautifully landscaped parks, the most delicious hideaways. They would eat a takeout lunch and talk like they used to in the gardens of Divine Redeemer.

Slowly, the tension seemed to ease, probably because his business was growing as it did in the spring every year. He had several designs in the works and planting yards and rooftops had begun because the weather was heavenly. An architectural magazine featured three of his rooftop gardens, the article went viral and he thought he was going to have to hire an answering service to take the additional calls that were coming in. Michael and Drew seemed to be getting along all right, thanks to some counseling, and Beau’s home life was better than it ever had been even with the danger they had experienced.

But, he looked in the truck bed and under the truck before getting inside every time he had to drive somewhere. It was a little like OCD but he decided if that was the worst thing that came of his mis-marriage and severely problematic divorce, he’d live through it. When he wondered if he’d manage another day through the stress, he just took Lauren into his arms, felt her mold herself to him in sweet affection, and he’d know he was finally where he wanted to be.

In April Lauren let her rental house go and even though her lease was for a year, the owner was very decent about it all. He probably didn’t want the domestic disturbances she’d been having to wear on the neighborhood any further. It left Beau’s home as her only home. It was not only where she wanted to be, it was also where she needed to be. They relied on each other now, after what had happened.

Beau and Lauren also enlarged Beau’s garden and updated the backyard because the weather was wonderful and Lauren had never loved being outdoors more. When she had lived in Brad’s house, she found her backyard to be too sterile and manicured, too artificial. In Beau’s yard and garden, there were things to watch growing and it was exciting. First there were little sprouts, then full thick stems then the start of fruits and flowers. Every morning, still in her robe, she wandered through the yard and garden, pulling a weed here or there, deadheading a bud or flowers, and before long Beau would join her, grooming the plants.

She had hardly any time to worry about her divorce, though she did check with Erica regularly. Brad was clearly stalling. Erica thought he’d rather pay fines and additional court costs than pay her, even though that wasn’t going to work out for him. It would all catch up with him eventually. Lauren’s job for Sylvie’s foundation was so rewarding, so busy, her schedule packed with meetings and planning sessions, she didn’t have a lot of time to worry about Brad. She and Beau were getting along just fine. The job had empowered her, made her feel vital again. She met with event planners, consultants, lawyers, account managers and sat in on the foundation board meetings.

Lauren talked to Lacey a couple of times a week and saw her for lunch or dinner about once a week. Sylvie had even hosted them at her house one day for lunch. Lauren wasn’t quite as worried about her