"Jonathan, where is this coming from?"
"It's coming from me not thinking that we are right for each other. And I don't want you to have regrets later in life, that you didn't take a job that you should absolutely take just to stay here with me when it's not the right choice".
"But it is the right choice. I want to be with you more than I want to work at The Times".
"Jennifer, we barely know each other."
"Jonathan, how can you say that?! We got married, didn't we? We live together, don't we?"
"We didn't get married because we love each other. We got married because we were hammered."
"You are the one that wanted us to try things after we discovered we got married".
"And that was a mistake. I mean, you don't even know my middle name. I don't know your middle name. I have no clue about your past, aside from the short biography you gave me when we met. And I haven't told you everything either".
"It's not my fault that you haven't told me things. And I told you everything I thought you wanted to know. I don't have any secrets from you, Jonathan".
"When's my birthday?"
"I…I'm not sure".
"What did I do when I graduated high school?"
"I...I'm not sure".
"What was the color of my first car?"
"What the hell difference does that make?!"
"Jennifer, I know this is confusing right now. But I think in time, you'll see it's for the best, both for the company and for us individually".
"What does the company have to do with this?"
"Well, my legal team stated that this was dangerous, because I didn't get a pre-nup. They are afraid that you will try and take half the company from me, or more. So, they think if we divorce now, that the company will fare better than if we stick it out several years and then divorce".
"I would never do that to you, and I can't believe you think that little of me!"
"I don't think little of you. But I do think us splitting up is the best choice, and I hope in time you will come to understand".
"So, that's it? Your mind is made up and there's nothing I can do or say to save things between us?"
"I don't think there is, no".
"I can't believe you are saying this to me".
"I'm just trying to be fair to you".
"You have got to be kidding! NONE of this is fair to me! You haven't once considered how I was going to feel, or what I think about any of this! You didn't even include me in the meeting with your legal team, Jonathan! And let's not forget-we might never know whose idea it was to get married, but staying married was YOUR idea! And to add insult to injury, you sent me flowers telling me how much you love me, which apparently was all a lie!"
"I can't talk to you when you're like this".
"Like what?"
"Emotional".
"How exactly do you expect me to be?"
He got up and grabbed his keys.
"I'm going for a drive and I won't be back for at least an hour, so you can move your stuff out now".
"Jonathan, all we've talked about are your feelings. Not once have you considered my feelings. Has it occurred to you that I don't want to move out?"
"Jennifer, I don't want to be married to you anymore. That's the bottom line. I wish you all the best, and I hope you don't hate me."
He headed out, while she sat there heartbroken.
***4 hours later***
Max returned home from his poker game to find Jonathan sitting in the living room, drinking.
"Mr. H., what are you doing up this late?"
"Just thinking, Max".
"Out with it, Mr. H. What's the matter?"
"It's complicated, Max. But the gist of it is, Jennifer and I are getting a divorce".
"What do you mean? I thought you two was the real deal".
"I had my legal team go through everything, and they looked at videos from the hotel and the wedding chapel. And it was clear that we were intoxicated, but it was also clear that it wasn't me forcing her to marry me, or her forcing me to marry her. So, the only way out is a divorce, and she got a very lucrative job offer today that I know is her dream job. But, I kind of figured that she wouldn't take it because of me. The legal team says if we divorce, she could take at least half of the company in the settlement, and that a shorter marriage is better than a longer one in terms of avoiding that. So, I told her that I wanted a divorce and that I think she should take the job in New York".
"Where is she now?"
"After I told her it was over, I took a drive up the coast, and she moved her stuff out. I guess she's at her apartment".
"Risky move, Mr. H. She loves you. More than anyone you've ever dated".
"I know Max, but she deserves to be happy and successful, and I didn't want her to have regrets over not taking the job she has dreamed of all her life".
"That's nice. But do you want her to have regrets about you, too?"
Jonathan didn't have an answer for that. He just took a drink and stared straight ahead.
***Jennifer's apartment***
Jennifer had packed all her things in a massive fit of energy, and was out of Jonathan's house in less than an hour.
She brought everything back inside her apartment, and started putting it all away.
After she was finished, she poured herself a glass of wine, climbed into a bubble bath, and cried.
***The Next Day***
Jennifer got to work and tried to put all thoughts of Jonathan out of her mind. She returned the phone call to The New York Times, and after about a twenty-minute phone call, she officially accepted their offer. She called Heather to break the news.
"Hey, you busy?"
"Not terribly. What's going on?"
"Well, I got a job offer from The New York Times, to have my own column. It's my dream job, it's always been my dream job. And I wasn't going to take it because I want Jonathan more than I want that job. And I'm happy living out here with him, really and truly happy. But then he came home last night and told me that he wanted a divorce. So, last night, after he dropped that bombshell, he took a drive and I moved back to my apartment, and a few minutes ago, I took the job in New York".
"Whoa".
"Yeah. It's been a whirlwind. I can't figure out where this is coming from. But he's adamant that he wants out of our marriage, so that's what he's going to get".
"When are you going to go back to New York?"
"Day after tomorrow, I think. I'm going to pack up my apartment, and then hire a moving company and then go out and start looking for a place. The paper is putting me up in a hotel until I find a place, so at least I will have somewhere to sleep".
"That's good. Well, why don't we have dinner tomorrow?"
"Sure, I'd like that".
"Great. I'll call you tomorrow".
"Ok sounds good".
She hung up and typed up her resignation, and then went to HR to discuss the terms of her exit.
They told her she could use her sick days, so she packed up her cubicle. Just before she was about to leave, Langston came over to her.
"Hey, you got another delivery".
"Thanks".
It was another vase of flowers filled with pretty pink and purple flowers of all kinds-ranunculus, roses, purple gladiolus, pink Gerber daisies, and a few large pink peonies.
She dug for the card and opened it.
I'm sorry, I know I hurt you. I hope in time you can forgive me and we can try again. It just wasn't the right time for us, that's all. Jonathan.
Jennifer picked the vase up and carried it along with her box of belongings to the car for the last time.
***Two Weeks Later***
Jennifer was officially back in New York. She found the perfect apartment to purchase and gave them full asking price. After she was all settled in, she took a few days and went to visit her dad before things got started hot and heavy at the paper.
She took a quick flight to London and surprised him at the Gallery.
"Jennifer, sweetheart! What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just came to surprise you."
"What's wrong? I can see it on your face".
"Everything. But I don't want to get into it here."
"I tell you what. I have one more consult this afternoon, and then I'll be home. Should only take me about an hour or so. Why don't you take a cab to the house? Walter is there, and I'm sure he'd love to see you. I'll call and tell him you're on your way".
"Ok".
They shared a very long hug and then Jennifer climbed into a cab and headed for his house.
Donna, Stephen's assistant, came up to him.
"Was that your daughter?"
"Yeah, it was".
"How long is she in town for?"
"I don't know, but I'm afraid it's not good".
"Why do you say that?"
"When things are going good with Jennifer, she gives you regular length hugs with a slight squeeze or a pat at the end. And when things aren't going well, she gives you long hugs that last about a minute with no squeeze and no pat".
"How long did this hug last?"
"5 minutes".
***Two Hours Later***
Jennifer arrived at her father's flat and was greeted by Walter.
"Hi Miss Jennifer! So nice to see you!"
Miss. What a punch in the gut.
"It's great to see you too, Walter".
"Mr. Edwards said you would be staying the night with us. Can I get you anything?"
"Not just yet. I think I'm going to just go up and get settled, and maybe take a bath".
"Ok, holler if you need me".
"You got it, Walter".
She came back downstairs when she heard her dad come in, and found him in the living room.
"Hi".
"Hi sweetheart. Walter told me you were getting settled".
"Yeah, I think I'm pretty much settled."
"How long are you going to be with us?"
"Just through the weekend".
"So, what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I can read you like a book, sweetheart. What is it?"
"Well, it's just…I'll start from the beginning. So, I went with a friend, Heather, to a work thing about 2 months ago and that's where I met the guy I've been seeing. That night, I also bid on a trip package, but lost. So, the guy and I start seeing each other, and then I got a phone call that the winner had backed out of the purchase, so it was going to me. So, Heather and I went to Vegas and enjoyed the trip. And the guy I'm seeing, he went there with a friend, and it's a long story, but Heather's grandmother passed away and the guy and his friend had a fight and he and I ended up spending the weekend together while Heather flew home and the guy's friend flew home as well."
"That sounds incredibly complicated".
"It's not. So, the guy and his friend had fight tickets, and he and I went. And it didn't go the way he hoped, or lasted nearly as long as he wanted, so he was upset. We headed to the rooftop bar, and then when we woke up the next day, we realized that we had gotten married the night before."
"Oh my".
"Yeah. So, we talked and decided to try our hand at marriage, but without the labels. And we decided if in a year we still wanted to be together, we would have a wedding re-do".
"I see".
"And then the day you sent me the flowers, he sent me flowers at work also, telling me that he loved me and hoped he could make me happy. And then literally hours later, he drops a bomb on me that he wants a divorce. I was completely blindsided. So, we argued, I lost, and I packed up my things and moved back to my apartment, and then the next day I accepted the job offer from the Times."
"Well, I'm sorry that he did that to you, sweetheart."
"Me too. I mean, I had finally found the person I was looking for, and now it's gone. I was never good enough for him, or anyone, I suppose".
"Don't think that way, sweetheart. You are most definitely good enough. You are quite simply all the most wonderful parts of your mother. She didn't have any bad parts, so you really lucked out. And he might be foolish enough to not see your wonderful qualities, but that doesn't mean someone else won't".
She wiped her tears away and just curled up on the couch.
"I thought you were going to be so mad at me that I got married on the whim".
"Why would I be mad about that? You're an adult, sweetheart. And you're human, and you're living. And part of living is making mistakes, and part of being human is making mistakes. Life is about learning, sweetheart. And it's not like you're the first person ever in life to get married and then regret it".
"I'm not the one regretting the marriage, although I did regret how it happened and the circumstances. He is regretting the marriage".
"Sweetheart, I don't think you need a divorce. I think you need an annulment."
"I do?"
"Yes, and I think I can get you one".
***A Week Later***
Jonathan was in his office. He was miserable, and missing Jennifer more than ever. He decided to finally give in and call her and see if they could talk. He hadn't filed yet, so it's not like the option to call off the divorce was totally off the table.
He quickly picked up the phone and dialed her number before he lost the nerve.
We're sorry, the number you have reached is no longer in service. Please hang up and try your call again.
His heart sank, but then again, he couldn't really blame her. He had been so hurtful, and had completely devastated her. He knew she would probably never believe him, but he had done it for her, so that she could go chase her dreams. All he wanted was for her to be happy.
He tried to put her out of his mind and got back to work.
About an hour later, Deanne buzzed him.
"Mr. Hart, there's a delivery person here, who wants to give you an envelope. He's insisting that he deliver the envelope to you in person".
"Send him in".
A few seconds later, a tall man came into Jonathan's office.
"Jonathan Hart?"
"Yes, I'm Jonathan Hart".
"Sign here, please".
He signed for the envelope and then handed the clipboard back to the gentlemen.
"You've been served. Have a good day".
He opened the envelope and found annulment papers from Jennifer.
There was a handwritten note inside, from her.
I think an annulment is a better option than a divorce. Please don't fight me on this-Jennifer.
He looked over the paperwork, and then buzzed Deanne.
"Can you call Mike Richards and have him come in here, please? ASAP".
"Yes, Mr. Hart".
***Jonathan's House***
Jonathan came home from the office at the normal time and found Max grilling them some steaks and baked potatoes.
He headed to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch and added a few ice cubes.
Max came in and found him.
"Hey Mr. H. Rough Day?"
"I was feeling bad, so I decided to call Jennifer and see if we could just talk things out".
"How far did you get?"
"Not far. Her number has been disconnected".
"I see".
"And then I was served annulment papers this afternoon that she had drawn up."
"Mr. H., with all due respect, you broke her heart. And you told her that you wanted out of the marriage, but you ain't made a move to formally end it. She has a right to protect herself and move on with her life, which is what you said you wanted".
"I know that, Max. But it's complicated…."
"You still love her, don't you?"
"More than ever, Max. More than ever".
