Lost in the Reflecting Pool by Diane Pomerantz

Author:Diane Pomerantz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

BY NOVEMBER, CHARLES HAD DEEPENED HIS RELATIONships with his female entourage even further. He called these women, including Victoria, his “four muses.” He and Victoria were still spending countless hours on the phone and e-mailing and writing letters, discussing whether they were going to continue their relationship. If it hadn’t been so crazy, it would have been funny. Nevertheless, I couldn’t stop reading the communications between them. Everyone told me it was toxic for me to do so. I just couldn’t stop. I couldn’t believe what was happening—he even called me his “childhood friend” in one message.

By the time I called Calvin Jones, a well-regarded divorce attorney in town, I had already met with a number of other lawyers. I wasn’t sure what characteristics I wanted in an attorney, but when I met Cal I knew he was someone I could work with. He spent over two hours listening to my story, he didn’t charge me for the consultation, and then he said he wouldn’t charge me a retainer, either. He was outraged by what Charles had been doing.

“Diane, the thing is, it’s not in your best interest or in the best interest of the children for him to lose his license, so we have to be smart in the way we play this, okay?” Then he told me everything he wanted me to bring to him within the next few days. I left his office feeling as if I had someone in my corner, someone who would take care of me. That feeling wouldn’t last long.

The kids and I made tacos for dinner, which they always enjoyed doing. Knaidl was under the table, waiting for all the droppings. It was a warmish evening, so the three of us took our bikes out after dinner and rode around the community.

“Too bad Daddy never gets to do fun stuff with us,” Sam called out as he did a wheelie, almost tumbling over. I shuddered.

Elli rolled her eyes as I looked at her and shrugged my shoulders, not saying anything as we pedaled behind him.

Charles arrived home at about ten. Sam was asleep, but Elli ran downstairs to greet him, and then he went up to her room and read to her for a while. I was in my bedroom when he came in and sat on the corner of the bed, smiling, and said, “You know, I’ve been thinking about you working. I think it will be too much for you to work full-time right now. I know we need the money, but not that much. You need time to heal.”

No decision I made would be right. I just looked at him, smiled, and said nothing. I breathed deeply and quietly. I had already made my decision. Living the way I was living now was more stressful than any full-time job could possibly be. No, I knew exactly what I was going to do. I had gotten an attorney, I planned to have my reconstructive surgery in December, and then I would get a job, to begin as soon as I recovered from my surgery.

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