Spirited Ride (7 page)

Sherri knew that she really needed to deal with TJ Simons. However, unlike the advice that Becca was giving, dealing with TJ in her eyes, meant divorcing him and moving on with her life.

She could respect Becca’s thoughts on not making rash decisions out of spite and anger but even if she did wait a month before doing anything with regards to the divorce… it wouldn’t matter… the end result would be the same. Her marriage was over… had been for ten fricken’ years.

“You sounded like Edna just now,” Sherri laughed lightly as memories of Bobby’s grandmother came to mind. “I get what you are saying but I’m not the one who left. I’m not the one who gave up on us. I’m sure I did play a part in him making the decision to leave. However, he didn’t
bother
to stick around long enough to tell me what part I played in ‘spilling the box’ so I’m not sure what rehashing the spilled box would really do for either one of us at this point.”

“I’m not sure either but supposedly only time can heal an old wound. So what’s the harm in waiting until the shock, disappointment, anger and hurt over seeing him again after all these years have stabilized before making a move?” Becca asked. “You might learn a few things about each other in the meantime that perhaps help make the divorce process go a little smoother and allow you both to tolerate each other afterward.”

That odd look was back on Becca’s face that indicated there was something more here that Sherri didn’t know about. Although Becca couldn’t tell her what it was whirling around in that brain of hers…

Becca also wasn’t Sherri’s only option for discovering what exactly TJ could have possibly needed the advice of a renowned criminal defense attorney for. Carla’s husband, Greg, was a former police detective and might be able to dig up whatever it was from TJ’s past that made Becca unable to take the man to court.

“Thanks for the pep talk and the referral but if you can’t take my case, I may see if I can muddle my way through this on my own over the next month while I’m
waiting
,” she replied.

Becca turned off the recorder and, standing up, came around her desk and hugged Sherri. The woman had earned Sherri’s respect years ago and not being able to help her get divorced now wouldn’t change that. So she laughed and said, “You’re the best, Becca. Any chance I can at least get a set of blank divorce papers that I can use to type up my own…”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. The only way I can help you is if you and TJ were to decide on a disillusion of marriage. That would mean that you’ve essentially done all the work and agree on who will get what. Then you would both be hiring me just to draw up the papers, make sure you both sign where you are supposed to and then file them with the court,” Becca replied. “If you guys can’t do that then you’ll need to hire someone to file for divorce. But if it’s any consolation to you, I won’t be taking TJ’s case either for the same reasons.”

The conversation she’d had with Becca and the advice she’d been given kept playing over and over in her head as she drove home to change for work and pick up Lindsey.

By the time she pulled up in front of the bar she wondered if she would ever get this divorce over with. As she walked through doors, the bar phone was ringing and Lindsey ran over and scooped it up. Then indicated the phone was for her.

“It’s me, Lilly,” her sister’s voice filtered through the line. “Two things… one is that Chris stopped by here earlier looking for you, said he needed to talk to you. I think one or more of the guys may have run him off and I’m sorry for that.”

“Second is that I got two emails from Tessa, the intern that Chuck has working for Becca. The first one was a blank template document file for a divorce. The second email said that she sent it by mistake and that she meant to send me the latest patent file and to just delete the first email. Then I remembered you saying you were going to see Becca today about TJ and I thought maybe this was yours… and it got sent to me by mistake,” Lilly finished.

God she loved that woman. Becca was smart as a whip, underhanded if she needed to be, a world class liar when necessary and absolutely brilliant.

Those qualities where exactly why there were so many jokes about lawyers but they were also all the things that made Becca invaluable to the group both as a friend and an attorney. She couldn’t give Sherri the file outright but she’d found a way to help a friend.

“Actually, Becca can’t take my case because she did some work or something for TJ a few years ago and that would create a conflict of interest for her. So I’m on my own. I know she said to delete it but I don’t suppose you could email it to me instead…” she said. “Pretty please?”

“I suppose… but you didn’t get it from me. It says right at the bottom that if it wasn’t for me I am supposed to delete it and I sure as hell don’t want Becca coming after me in a court of law,” Lilly laughed.

After hanging up with Lilly, her day suddenly appeared much brighter. She hadn’t even seen the template file but somehow knew it would be exactly what she needed.

Out of respect she would take the month as Becca had suggested but at the end of that month she’d be ready to wipe her slate clean and start over. While she was at it she might just dump Chris’ dumb ass as well… then she could find some hot, young guy to fulfill her needs. A vision of TJ immediately jumped into her head but she shoved it aside angrily and got to work.

Halfway through her shift Chris came in. Since the place was dead and TJ hadn’t come in yet to make her life miserable by playing his guitar and singing to her while drumming up business for her all at the same time, she joined Chris in a booth at the back of the room. He looked nervous…
or angry.

“Why didn’t you tell me that TJ is still coming around here?” he asked once she slid into the bench seat of the booth across the table from him.

“You told me the last time that you were sick of hearing about him. I can’t seem to avoid the drama he causes everywhere he goes because, unfortunately, I’m still married to him, but since you asked me not too, I’ve left you out of it as much as possible,” she replied.

Sighing heavily and getting more frustrated by the minute, he rubbed his hand over his beard and said, “How much money do you need to divorce his ass?”

“I don’t need
any
money, Chris. I’m going to file the paperwork myself but I promised Becca Long that I’d wait a month before doing anything. She’s trying to play peacemaker between TJ and I for whatever reason and I figure I’ve waited ten years… what’s one more month?” she asked.

“You
are
still in love with him!” Chris exclaimed, as though she had just proven it by something she’d said.

“I am
not
still in love with him… it’s just complicated. The house was his grandmother’s and I’ll be damned if I will lose it or my business,” she ground out.

“Really, Sherri? I’d think after waiting ten years, you’d cut off your right arm to be free of the man… at least that’s the way you’ve always made it sound. You talked a good talk right up until he came back to town,” Chris said. “You know the guys at the shop all think you’re sleeping with him again? In fact they were so sure they felt like I should know.”

“Look… I’ve had a really crappy day so far and I don’t need your shit added to it,” she replied. “I’ve got to finish next week’s schedules so we’ll have to finish this conversation later.”

“I don’t think so… not this time. I’ve let you blow me off so many times… but I’ll be damned if I’ll be used as a last resort anymore. You need to work through your shit before you even bother trying to have a relationship with someone… whether it’s me, TJ or some other bozo,” he said angrily.

She should be nice but his face read like a book which brought back a fresh wave of anger. This wasn’t about her issues at all. Someone at the shop had said something to him and now he felt humiliated and was looking for her to console him.

What about him consoling her when she needed to vent? Well then he was suddenly sick of hearing about TJ or the bar or whatever issue she happened to be having.

“A relationship? Is that what you thought this was between us?” she asked angrily. “I may not have always asked you to go home
every
time after sex, but that was more of a courtesy thing, really. I’m sorry if by doing so that gave you the impression that I’d be willing to put up with your shit when your ego gets bruised.”

“Fuck you, Sherri. Don’t call
me
next time you’re lonely or half in the bottle then,” he spat.

With that he stood up and started for the door… and maybe because of the month she was having or just lack of true feelings for him… she let him leave without saying a word. Maybe she would eventually miss him… at least a little… but right now he was either on her side or he wasn’t. In fact… was no one on her side in this thing?

As pissed as she was at Chris, she actually wanted TJ to show up tonight… so she could claw his damn eyes out. Her life had been fine until his janitorial duties put him directly in her path… all over again.

Tonight of all nights TJ had decided he wasn’t interested in coming by the bar to irritate her and entertain the guests?

The hell with that… she knew where he was living and the piece of shit car he drove would give away exactly which apartment. He’d kicked a sleeping dog and was about to feel the consequences of his actions. Getting up from the booth she headed back to the grill area.

Pushing past the swinging door to the kitchen she said, “Dawn, I need you to work the bar tonight and Lindsey, I need you to handle the kitchen until I get back. Do you think you guys can hold down the fort while I run an errand? I shouldn’t be more than an hour… maybe two if I wind up in handcuffs.”

The girls looked at each other but then nodded their heads and she turned and headed back out of the kitchen, past the bar and straight out the front door to her car.

Normally she didn’t use her cell phone while driving but this time it might keep her from driving her car through the bastard’s front door. Finding Greg Sanders’ contact number she hit send.

“I’m afraid to ask what you’ve done this time,” he said upon answering her call.

“I need one definite favor… and one possible favor,” she said angrily.

“Everything okay?” he asked upon hearing the tone of her voice.

“I need you to do a background check on TJ for me. I’ll pay whatever… but I need to know what he could possibly have needed advice from your sister about a few years back and why he’s flat ass broke now. I don’t know what he’s up to but Prince Charming’s reign of bullshit will be ending promptly once you give me something to work with,” she replied. “I know you work with him and probably think he’s just great, just like the rest of them, but you’ve known me for a while now. You trust me right? Well, I’m telling you that he’s not all he appears to be and I just need to know what secrets he’s keeping… Please.”

“I can do that,” he replied calmly.

Just like that… finally someone who was in her corner! A small sliver of guilt hit her over some of the fun pranks she’d pulled on the man over the years, and the merry chases she’d sent him on a time or two. If he could pull this off and get her the information she needed she would never pull a fast one on him again.

“Is that it?” he asked cautiously.

“Oh and I may possibly need bail money here in about an hour but hopefully the dirt you dig up on him will help me explain things to the judge,” she replied.

“What?” he asked quickly.

“Kidding…” she replied.
Not really.
“Call me when you’ve got something and I guess it goes without saying that I don’t want anyone else to know about this until then.”

Upon ending the call her cell phone rang and she answered, thinking perhaps it was Greg calling back with a question.

“Aunt Sherri?” Gretchen asked.

“What’s up, baby?” she replied, forcefully softening her voice for the child. She’d made it across town to the apartments where TJ lived in less than ten minutes…
while on her cell phone
. A small shiver of guilt crawled up her neck.

“Can I set up some drums and learn to play them in your garage?” Gretchen asked.

“Are your mama and daddy okay with it?” she asked in return.

“Yes, but we don’t have room for the drums here…” she replied.

“Then of course you can use my garage. I’ve got to go though so you can just bring them over Tuesday or Thursday,” she said, pulling up next to TJ’s car.

“Thanks, Aunt Sherri… love ya, bye!” Gretchen said, hanging up.

Tossing her cell phone into her purse and throwing the strap of it across her shoulder, Sherri got out and slammed her car door shut. Then she marched up to his door and pounded on it.

“Answer this damn door, TJ... right now! I’m sick of this shit,” she yelled at the closed door.

Less than a second later the door was flung open and she was face to face with a flushed TJ. Looking past him she was shocked to find Gina sitting on his couch. Though both of them were fully dressed and Gina didn’t look as though anything was amiss, TJ sure did.
What the hell?

She wasn’t sure if the disappointment in her gut was because Gina was the closest thing to a best friend that Sherri had and should
definitely
be in her corner, not fooling around with the enemy. Or if she was disappointed that, yet again, TJ had just been playing with her by stopping by the bar nearly every night these past couple of weeks.

“Come on in,” TJ offered. She watched Gina stand up and approach the door as well.

Encouraging him to start dating again would be the prudent thing to do. It might even make the divorce process go a little smoother, as Becca had put it, but she just couldn’t… especially not with
Gina
of all people.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know you had company,” she said, turning away. She actually felt physically sick at the thought of the two of them together.

“I come over here to keep him from showing up and irritating you at the bar tonight… and then what do you do? You show up here instead?” Gina laughed. “Help me to help you!”