She even had passing thoughts of going to Boston, though she was sure Jeremy’s family would invite them home and Lauren suspected they would include her.
But who would rear an ugly head this holiday season? Would it be Lacey, angry that the family she had known was splitting apart? Would it be Brad, furious that the holiday he had designed was not to be? Would the holiday spirit throw him into a rage?
Brad loved the Christmas season particularly. He liked attending parties; he liked throwing parties. Though he played host and had specific ideas about what should be done, he didn’t do any of the work. He liked showing off at all of the parties, but he wouldn’t like it while going through a divorce. Adele had never joined them at Beth’s house. Instead, whether Thanksgiving or Christmas, he would make a run by his mother’s house and have dessert with her, dragging Lauren along. But while he paid homage to Adele by having a holiday meal with her now and then, he didn’t much enjoy it. He didn’t stay long and his mood was usually dark when it was over. What he liked was hosting a lavish celebration at his house, whether it was for his friends or even Lauren’s family. That’s where he was comfortable—the king and his subjects. Whether Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, he liked it when people gathered at his house.
That would never happen again. The only way he could do it without Lauren was to have it catered the way Adele did, without his queen to oversee the details and do the work.
But perhaps he was working on his next wife, she thought cheerfully. That would eliminate a number of problems, if she could just pass him off to the next woman. That she pitied her successor went without saying, but she couldn’t help the mysterious her.
But would he snap? That was her real worry. When the holidays didn’t go the way he’d like them to go, would anger overwhelm him? Would that restraining order keep her safe from him?
Erica called her. It was the second week of October. The leaves were turning. It was still warm in most of the Bay Area while the coast was still cool and damp. The harvest was almost over. “Dr. Delaney would like to have a face-to-face conference with you. He termed it a renegotiation,” Erica said.
“A what?”
“I have no idea what he means by that,” she said. “Given your history with the man, I suggest we just say you’re not interested in a meeting.”
“What does he want?” Lauren asked. “Sorry, I’m thinking aloud. You just said you have no idea what that’s about.”
“Think about your experience with him,” Erica said. “What does he do?”
“He lies and manipulates and here’s the hook—I get sucked in because I wonder what he’s going to say. I wonder so passionately that I can’t wait to hear what he wants now. But you’re right. Please tell his lawyer that I don’t want to meet with him. He can talk to you.”
Erica sighed deeply. “I’ll listen to any offer, present it to you, and we’ll go from there.”
“And here I was just thinking how well things are going—he hasn’t bothered me, nagged or intruded on me, and I’m getting a stipend to help with finances. It was too good to be true, wasn’t it?”
“We don’t know yet,” she said. “His attorney says his request is very sincere. Of course, that’s exactly what I would say. I’ll be in touch.”
Three days later Erica called again, this time asking Lauren to stop by the office. Erica Slade kept offices in a chic Victorian building that housed several lawyers, paralegals and clerical staff. She was located on a fashionable San Francisco street that also had residences—very upscale, as were Erica Slade’s fees.
“I gave him a couple of hours of my time, which he will pay for, just as he will pay for the time I’m presently giving you. I wanted to see your face when I tell you this. I have accustomed myself to surprises but I’ve never grown to like them.”
“Oh dear,” she said weakly.
“He is willing to make a substantial cash payment to you with a few stipulations. He would give you five million in cash, transferable bonds and stocks if you will give the marriage another go. He would agree to a post-nuptial agreement that would keep the settlement from being a part of your future community property if your