Chapter 2

2: 2

I looked at her. "You agree to walk away with nothing, and we settle it by agreement. You don't, we settle it in court."

"Wyatt, do you honestly think there's anything left between us?"

"Living apart all these years. I've had enough of it."

"We're both adults. Can we not drag this out?"

I'd tried again and again to talk to her about ending the travel, quitting the road. Every time, she blew up and called me lazy, said I had no drive.

Now the travel, the distance, had become a weapon she swung at me.

Only now I saw it for what it was. Arguing with her was a waste of my time.

I stood up, and on my way out I left her one line.

"If you agree to walk away with nothing, call me anytime. Or take me to court. I'll be waiting on the summons."

I was about to leave when Austin Carlson called after me.

"Mr. Dickerson, as an outsider here, allow me to say a couple of things."

"Love is the finest gift God ever gave mankind. You can't force a melon off the vine and expect it to be sweet."

I looked at him. "If you were rich enough, would Penelope be fighting me over money?"

Austin's face soured. "Mr. Dickerson, I'm speaking about the feelings between you and Penelope. Why drag me into it?"

"Besides, love isn't something you can measure in money."

"I'm an artist. I've never once bent my back for a bowl of rice."

I gave a small laugh. "An artist who lives off a woman. Very high artistic integrity."

"Wyatt, that's enough." Penelope glared and snapped at me, then turned to soothe Austin. "Don't stoop to a crude man like him."

"How could I. A big man forgives small things. I won't be upset." Austin's smile came out strained.

Penelope's eyes came back to me.

"Wyatt, I'm talking to you calmly, and that's for the children's sake. I didn't want to sour things. But don't throw kindness back in my face."

"Austin and I are clean. He just happened to be here today, and it made me see there really is a huge gap between one man and another. That's why I'm asking for the divorce."

"If you won't split the assets the way I said, I've got proof of you breaking the rules."

"Let me remind you. A lot of our conversations were recorded. Not just audio. Video too."

"Think about it. If I hand this over, imagine where you'll end up."

"Don't believe me? Take a look at this clip."