The Contract We Never Honored

ndshield of Darren Hayes' Porsche. He killed the engine and stared up at the Hartley & Rowe Law

But inside, he was fraying. The thrill of conquest had passed. All that

sidewalk planters, the aroma of roasted coffee drifting from corner shops, and cyclists breezing by with

the twelfth floor. She stood alone, silhouetted by the riverfront view, arms cross

ed. Beautiful, yes, but hollow-like a sculptur

me," sh

think I ha

de were legal contracts-joint investments, real estate deeds

dn't sit. "Wh

" she repl

e wh

. "He left the condo two day

w tensed. "

ed. "He saw

nly by the tick of the wall clock and the

o be the one to d

y anything," she w

ow. "Then why does it feel lik

ley leaned over a cardboard box and pulled out an old baseball glove. Dust clung to it lik

like a fragile heirloom. The apartment smelled of lemon cleaner and boxe

came at

company. No one

ed the door,

ul

face, but the same fire in her hazel eyes. She s

surveying the unpacked box

run. I ste

l this s

respond. She c

o days and think I wo

eded

d to stop

d. "I'm not in t

'm here to l

you her

"Because I heard what happened. And I kne

She planned this. While she was talking me i

pression softening. "You trusted he

el st

're

el em

't stay

or a while. Then she

ake you s

s head. "I'

eing ready. It's

rcles. Hartley & Rowe buzzed with speculation. The once-glorious imag

ites gathered over whiskey and half

r about

candal. Tota

always seeme

trying to push

rren Hayes-client, investor.

ternoon to her firm's office

e. From Chicago Gazette. S

hed into a smile. "T

e door. The world was crashing.

hone

ge – Unkn

es you happy. But I promise you this-n

t. She didn't n

had found

between bookstores and galleries, Jonathan sat across from J

ou remember that

got chased by that gallery owner after y

t flirt.

laughed-for the

d this,"

di

y didn't

se I wanted order.

sn't alw

etimes i

touched his hand again. "You thin

rebuild with walls anymore. I want windows

s flickering to life, couples strolling past fountains,

ould

irror, hand trembling. She had taken the pregnancy te

ati

stayed the night. She had char

Not just in bod

rang. It w

ws?" he

she wh

ght thi

di

was a

s is a sig

the sink. "Do

wanted a family. I just s

d you wa

like this. Not.

r eyes. "Then

just th

ic

all e

woman in the mirror didn't look like

one who had everythi

ked Julia to her car. She leaned

who you were

ope

e to find me,"

"I might ju

ently, cautious

hing opened inside him. N

do