Chapter 4

The weather was beautiful on the day of the hearing.

I wore a white dress and light makeup.

At the entrance to the courthouse, I saw Percival.

He looked even more haggard than he did on TV, his eyes densely threaded with red.

The moment he saw me, he hurried over.

"Aria."

I didn't stop. I walked straight in.

He caught up and grabbed my arm.

"Can we talk one more time?"

"Just once."

I shook him off.

"Whatever needs to be said, we'll say it in court."

His hand froze in midair, his face full of frustration and helplessness.

The proceedings went quickly.

Because the evidence of his affair during the marriage was conclusive, and given his status as a public figure, the judge granted our divorce on the spot to keep the fallout from spreading.

The property was divided according to what I'd written in the agreement: I walked away with nothing.

When I stepped out of the courthouse, the sunlight was blinding.

I squinted, and my whole body felt lighter.

Like a heavy burden I'd carried for years had finally been set down.

Myron's car was parked not far away.

He was leaning against the door, and when he saw me, he smiled at me.

Percival saw him too.

He rushed over and blocked my path.

"So it's because of him?"

"Aria, have you been with him all along?"

His accusation was full of bitterness and anger.

I looked at him and suddenly felt very calm.

"So what if I have? So what if I haven't?"

"Percival, there's nothing between us anymore."

I stepped around him and walked toward Myron.

He watched me get into Myron's car, watched the car pull away and disappear.

In the rearview mirror I saw him standing there, like a lonely statue.

After a long moment, he raised his hand and slammed his fist hard against the wall beside him.

Blood trickled down between his fingers.

Myron glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Where to?"

"The jewelry store," I said.

The wedding ring I'd melted down had been made into a minimalist platinum necklace.

The pendant was a small, round silver bead.

I put it on, and the cool of it settled against my collarbone.

It didn't belong to anyone. It belonged only to me.

This was a new beginning.

My relationship with Myron warmed slowly, in an unspoken understanding.

He never named it out loud; he was just always there when I needed him.

He'd remember when my period was coming and have hot ginger tea ready in advance.

He'd figure out which restaurant's dessert I loved, then quietly box one up and drop it off at my office.

When I worked late into the night, he'd drive over and wait downstairs, just to take me home.

That quiet, unassuming tenderness slowly filled the hollow Percival had left in my heart.

I started looking forward to his calls, looking forward to seeing him.

It was a completely different feeling from being with Percival.

With Percival, it was looking up.

I looked up at the halo over his head, up at the stars and the sea he talked about.

And I was only a speck of dust beneath that halo.

With Myron, it was looking across.

We stood on the same ground, breathed the same air, took in the same view.

He made me feel that I was loved, that I was cherished.

That day, we'd planned to go to a movie together.

It was very late by the time it let out.

He walked me to my apartment building.

"Go on up, get some rest."

I nodded and unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Myron."

The word came out of me suddenly.

He turned to look at me.

"Hm?"

"Do you... like me?"

I asked it straight out.

He paused, then smiled.

"Is it that obvious?"

My heart skipped a beat.

He leaned in, his warm breath brushing my cheek.

"Yes."

"From the first time I saw you, I liked you."

"But I knew you weren't ready then."

"Aria, I'm willing to wait."

"For whenever you're ready to take a step toward me."

My heart was wrapped in an enormous tenderness.

I looked into his eyes, and there was no desire in them, only sincerity and care.

I leaned over and lightly kissed his lips.

A touch, then apart.

"I've taken my step."

"The other ninety-nine are yours."

He froze, and then joy flooded his face.

He cupped the back of my head and deepened the kiss.

Nothing like Percival's dominance and possessiveness.

His kiss was gentle, lingering, carrying the tenderness of something lost and found again.