One Night Bride by Marika Ray
25
Remington
Esme: So…I almost got arrested getting off the damn plane, but I’m currently ride sharing back to Hell. Can we meet up?
I had to read her text twice to understand what was going on. She’d been on a plane?
Me: Did I interrupt a trip somewhere?
Esme: lol Yep! I was headed to Wyoming!
I stood so quickly an older couple walking by in the lobby nearly bobbled their canes. I put up a hand in apology. My heart was beating so fast I would believe I’d been chopping wood instead of sitting around the Peacock B & B all afternoon. I’d come straight here to talk to Amelia, thinking she’d have advice for me on how to win back Esme. The frazzled woman at the desk had informed me Amelia and Titus were unavailable due to the birth of their daughter. Something about missing that momentous occasion didn’t sit right with me. Esme and I should have been there together to witness that. I’d spent the last two hours sitting here in the lobby, twiddling my thumbs and working out exactly what to say this time to make things right.
But if Esme had been on the way to Wyoming, that had to mean she wanted to see me. Wanted to set things right. An idea hit me hard and fast. I went back to the check-in desk to ask for Mayor Rip’s phone number. The woman gave it to me with a raised eyebrow, like I was calling him to complain.
“Mayor Bennett’s office,” came a voice on the other end of the line.
“Hey there, this is Remington Roth. I’m looking to get ahold of Rip Bennett, please.” I wandered back over to the chair I’d kept warm all afternoon.
“He’s in a meeting. Would you like his voicemail?”
Damn. I really needed to talk to him. “This is about that land purchase he and I discussed. I really do need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
Yep. I lied. Rubbing a hand across my forehead, I sat forward, hoping she wouldn’t see through my lie.
“Um, well, let me see what I can do. Please hold.”
And then orchestra music filled my ear. I’d never met Rip. Nor really anyone other than the good ladies of Hell that had come to the retreat at Esme’s. I’d been in hiding most of the time I’d been in Hell, but I’d heard that Rip used to run tourist excursions on his boat before he became mayor.
Not more than a minute later, a man’s voice came on the line. “This is Rip Bennett. Who is this again?”
“Hi, Rip, this is Remington Roth, I’m, um, married to Esme Waldo.”
He chuckled. “That’s right. My wife, Hazel, was talking about you the other day. She and her Hell Raisers had some choice words about you.”
“Hell Raisers?” I didn’t think I wanted to know what those words were.
“They’re like a girl gang of wives and moms you really should watch out for. Lucy is the ring leader, but Amelia packs a punch with that attitude of hers. She told us all about you and Esme when things hit the internet.”
I cringed, too desperate to hold anything back. “See, here’s the thing. I love Esme. With all my damn heart, but I asked her to give up her business for me. I’m usually a smart man, but she’s got me turned inside out.”
Rip chuckled again. “Been there myself, my friend.”
I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. “So, I’m asking for a huge favor to try to make things right. Can I rent your boat tonight?”
“My boat? Sure. I don’t use it for business anymore. Are you sure, though? That thing isn’t exactly good looking. It’s more like a deep-sea-fishing boat.”
“If it runs, I’ll take it.”
“Tell you what. You can swing by my office and pick up the keys anytime. It’s yours for the night. No rental fee since you’re doing me a favor by running it.”
I fist-pumped the air, getting an odd stare from the lady behind the check-in desk. “Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”
Rip laughed again. “Man, you have no idea the coordination it took to win Hazel back. I literally had the whole town turn out. Renting my boat isn’t a big deal.”
I frowned. “Well, crap. Maybe I should be thinking bigger.”
“Nah. Hazel needed a big show. Esme probably needs something else. You know your girl better than anyone. I wish you luck.”
“Thanks, man.”
We hung up, and I got busy making more calls before I texted Esme back.
Me: Can you meet me at the marina at seven?
The three little dots appeared immediately.
Esme: Sure, but I’ll be back in town in a half hour.
Me: Seven. Marina. Dress warm.
Esme: I’m looking forward to it…
I stood up and did a little two-step out of the B & B, earning me some stares and a few whistles of appreciation. Everything was turning out perfectly. By tonight, Esme and I would be back on.
Esme
I raced home from the airport, scaring the life out of Izzy when I charged through the front door.
“What happened?”
I ran through the house and lugged the suitcase up the stairs. She followed me, probably thinking the worst.
“He texted me when I got on the plane,” I huffed, dropping the suitcase on the bed. “He’s here in Auburn Hill. So I got off.”
Izzy clapped her hands with a squeal and jumped on the bed. “So, what’s the plan? Where is he?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know yet. He just said to meet him at the marina at seven.” I stripped off the sundress and went looking for a pair of jean shorts and a sweater.
“Oh my God. He flew here to meet you and you were flying there to meet him. This is like one of those sappy romantic movies you watch.”
I shoved my legs one by one into my shortest cutoff jean shorts. “I know. But I still have to do this right, Izzy. I have to make sure he knows he’s top priority.”
Izzy sat forward. “You posted the video, right?”
I nodded, ignoring the dip in my stomach. “I did.”
“And?”
I pulled an off-the-shoulder colorful blouse on. “And what? I haven’t looked. I even turned on that social media blocker app so I can’t look at any of them.”
Izzy smiled calmly. “I’m proud of you. You’re making changes and he’ll see that. I know he will.”
“Thanks, Iz.”
The doorbell rang. We both stared at each other, frozen. Then we both ran down the stairs in a frenzy. I had no idea who it was, but I had a feeling it had to do with Remy. My heart was so hopeful, so light, I felt like a kid again, getting into adventures with my twin. She beat me to the door, only because she hip-checked me in the living room, a maneuver I was not expecting from my kind and sweet sister.
I rubbed my hip while she swung the door open to reveal a guy who looked like he spent more time on a Harley than he did talking to people.
“Esme Waldo?” he barked.
I stepped forward with a frown. “Yes, that’s me.”
He shoved a thick envelope at me. “You’ve been served.” Then he spun around and thumped his heavy boots across my deck.
My brain shut down, all that hope and playfulness a moment ago leaving in an instant. I’ve been served? What the actual fuck?
Izzy closed the door and locked it, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go in the living room.” She guided me there, which was good because nothing was making any sense. Could this be…? No. He was here in Hell to make up with me, not to serve me divorce papers. Right?
“Oh, Izzy,” I said quietly, my breath coming in uneven pants. “I got it all wrong. He’s here to start the divorce, not to get back together.”
“I don’t understand. Why meet at the marina? Why is he here at all? He could have had you served and stayed in Wyoming.” Izzy rattled off questions that were swirling in my head too.
Tears burned their way into my eyes. I stared down at the manila envelope, the weight of the papers not nearly as heavy as the feeling in my chest. It was over. My fingers found the flap and bent the little metal prongs, pulling out a stack of papers that looked extremely official. The first page swam in front of me and I had to blink rapidly to read it.
Court of Nevada - petition for dissolution of marriage.
I felt like breaking into sobs. Felt like throwing the papers in the trash. Hell, I felt like climbing into my bed and never coming back out again. The world was too harsh. It was all just too much for me anymore. But then something else started to burn away the sadness and shame of not being wanted by the one man I cared about.
Dad would call it pulling myself up by my bootstraps.
Alcoholics Anonymous would call it hitting rock bottom.
I was tougher than this.
I lost my business and my husband, but I would never lose myself.
“Esme?” Izzy asked beside me, worry evident in her tone.
I turned to her, stuffing the papers back in the envelope.
“I’m still going to the marina. He left without giving me a chance to make things right, and though I probably deserved that, I’ll tell him everything I planned on saying. If he still wants this divorce, then I’ll sign on the dotted line. But I won’t sit here and cry anymore.”
Izzy sucked in a deep breath. “Good for you, babe. Esme Waldo goes after what she wants and doesn’t take no for an answer.”
I managed a weak smile. “I might have to take no for an answer, but he’s not the only fish in the sea.”
“Or the only cowboy in Wyoming,” Izzy added.
That made my lips twitch. “If this doesn’t work out, I may have to pass on any future cowboys.”
Izzy nodded, looking thoughtful. “Makes sense. His ass in Levi’s is pretty much perfection.”
I pretended shock. “Izzy Waldo, have you been checking out my husband’s butt?”
She snorted and stood up, pulling me off the couch. “Kind of hard to miss.”
My smile faded, thinking about how this might be the last time I ever saw Remington’s ass. Or his bright blue eyes. Or his broad smile and wide chest. Or the scar on his right thumb that I liked to stroke my finger over when we held hands.
“Stop thinking whatever you’re thinking,” Izzy interrupted. “Go talk to him.”
I nodded, knowing she was right, and grabbed my sweater, keeping those dreadful papers in my hand. I’d be an hour early, but I wasn’t waiting until seven. I needed to settle things now or I might just lose my mind.