Marking Time by Marie Force Page B

we’re having Friday night?”
    “She did.”
    “I hope you and your mother can join us.”
    “I don’t know, Jack. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
    “Whatever you think is best. I just wanted you to know you’re invited.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you remember we have an appointment on Tuesday with Cooper to sign the papers for the house?”
    “I have it on the calendar.”
    “There’s one thing about that.”
    “Is there a problem?” She wondered if he was regretting giving her the house in the divorce.
    “No, but I’ve asked Coop to include a provision in the transfer papers that says you can only sell it to me.”
    Clare felt a flash of temper. “Why? So you can move your new family in here?”
    “No, Clare, so I can give it to the girls someday if you don’t want it,” he said in a controlled tone that told her he was struggling to contain his own anger.
    “I’m sorry. That was out of line. I’d never sell this house, and I’d certainly never do it without consulting you first.”
    He sighed. “I hate this.”
    She blinked back tears. “I do, too. I think it’s good I’m going away for a while, Jack. We could both use the space.”
    “Maybe. I’ll see you Tuesday at two?”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Tell Maggie I’ll be by to get her around five today,” he added.
    “I will.”
     
    On Tuesday, Clare arrived ahead of Jack at their attorney’s office. Cooper Hayes was a strapping ex-football player and a teddy bear of a man who’d been their good friend for years.
    “How are you, sweetheart?” he asked as he enveloped Clare in one of his monster hugs.
    “I’m good, Coop. Janice came by the other day. It was great to see her.”
    “She loved seeing you, too.”
    “How’re the boys?” Clare asked, even though she’d gotten the full update from Janice.
    “Barry’s a sophomore at UNH,” he said, referring to the University of New Hampshire. “And Jeff started at Cornell in September. We’ve got ourselves an empty nest all of a sudden.”
    “Janice and I shared a few tears over it the other day.”
    Coop shook his head. “Poor gal, she’s been weepy for months now. I need to take her off on a long vacation soon. She needs it.”
    “And you don’t?” Clare asked with a wry smile. Those boys had been Coop’s whole world for years.
    “You got me,” he said with a sad expression. “I’m sorry about all of this, Clare.”
    She knew he meant her divorce and reached a hand out to him. “Thanks.”
    Clare’s breath got caught in her throat when Jack walked in with a smile and a handshake for Coop. Once again she wondered how long it would take before her heart stopped fluttering every time she saw him or heard his voice. Months? Years? Forever?
    He leaned down to kiss her cheek as they said hello.
    After they’d caught up for a few minutes, Coop gestured for them to have a seat at the table in his office. “You’ve discussed the sale provision?”
    “Yes,” Jack said.
    “Okay with you, Clare?” Coop asked.
    “Yes,” she said, anxious to get it done. All of a sudden, the big room felt small and airless.
    “All right, then. I need you both to sign here, here, and here.” Coop pointed to the bottom of three pages.
    Clare saw Jack hesitate before he signed the first page. A muscle twitched in his cheek, and it saddened her to realize he was emotional about signing away the house he’d built for her. She wanted to reach out to him but curbed the urge.
    He scrawled “John J. Harrington” across the bottom of the first page and pushed it over to her.
    When they’d signed each page, Coop gathered them up. “You’ll receive the deed in about six weeks, Clare. That’s all there is to it.”
    “Thanks, Coop,” Jack said, standing to shake his hand.
    “Yes, thank you,” Clare added. “For everything.” He’d handled their divorce with discretion and dispatch.
    “No problem,” Coop said as he saw them to the door. “Take care of