Chapter 80 Parting on Good Terms
Margaret was at it again, no doubt about it.
Caught in the middle, he didn't know what to do.
Alvin figured Raymond wouldn't show up there today, but he couldn't let her down.
So, he put his phone on silent and shoved it back into his suit pocket.
The screen stayed lit for almost a minute before going dark.
Margaret stared at the missed call, frowning. What was up with that? Alvin had never ignored her call before.
By noon, the Family Court staff were on break.
One of them noticed her still hanging around and asked, "You here to get hitched?"
"Nope, here for a divorce," Margaret replied with a smile.
The staff member nodded and said, "You need your hubby here too. Can't get a divorce solo."
"He's busy. He'll come once he's done," Margaret said with a bitter smile.
The staff member, clearly used to this, smiled and said, "You should head home. From my experience, he ain't coming. We've had couples here before, fighting for a divorce, but one forgot their papers, and they left laughing together. Another couple, just like you, said they wanted a divorce, but the woman waited all day, and her husband never showed up.
"If both of you really wanted a divorce, you wouldn't be acting like this. Marriage ain't a game; you can't just divorce on a whim. If you can work things out, it's best to talk it out calmly.
"If he really wanted a divorce, he'd be here before you, scared you'd change your mind. So, don't wait around like a fool; he ain't coming.
"Just talk it out."
The staff member, a middle-aged woman, chubby and wearing glasses, was super warm-hearted.
Right then, a delivery guy, out of breath, handed a takeout order to the middle-aged woman.
She smiled and thanked him. The delivery guy apologized for being a minute late 'cause of traffic, then rushed off to his next delivery.
The woman said, "Trust me. There's a market nearby with cheap and fresh produce. Buy some of your husband's favorite foods, cook him a nice meal, and you two will be fine."
She smiled and took her takeout inside the Family Court.
Margaret watched her go. She seemed nice, probably a mediator.
Margaret's stomach growled, so she hit up a nearby restaurant.
She didn't dare go far, worried Raymond might come here and not find her.
The restaurant had great service. Seeing she was alone, they suggested she order smaller portions, which was economical and not wasteful.
She wasn't strapped for cash, but she took the suggestion and ordered smaller portions.
The waiter even placed a doll on the chair opposite her, making it seem like she wasn't alone.
The food was pretty good.
She usually didn't have a big appetite, but she cleaned her plate.
She munched away, waiting for Raymond to hit her up.
Was he bailing? Did he not want the divorce?
Was he straight-up dodging her?
No way. He'd been ice-cold for a year just to get this divorce.
Last night, he even threatened to end her if she didn't show up today or tried any funny business.
He had to be busy with something.
Margaret was done lying to herself, making excuses for him.
The waiter even brought her some fruit.
She ate slowly, dragging it out for three hours, but still no word from Raymond.
Margaret wrapped her gray scarf around her neck and headed to the restroom to touch up her makeup.
She checked her watch; it was already 5:20 PM.
The Family Court was about to close.
Margaret bit her lip, pulled out her phone from her jacket pocket, and still saw no response.
She couldn't wait any longer; she had to find out what Raymond was up to.
She found Raymond's number and dialed.
As it rang, her heart pounded with each ring.
What was he doing?
They had agreed on ten o'clock, and now it was almost half-past five, and he still hadn't shown up.
Was he messing with her?
Margaret's frustration grew deeper.
However, he had blocked her.
Did he see her messages?
He saw them but didn't reply and blocked her.
Margaret was fuming. Wasn't humiliating her last night enough?
Just then, Alvin's name popped up on her phone screen.
Alvin was calling her!
She quickly answered, pushed open the restaurant's glass door, and a bone-chilling cold wind wrapped around her like a tight net.
Silverbrook's winter cold was dry and cut right to the bone.
The wind whipped her hair, slashing her face like a knife. She gasped in pain. "Alvin."
"Mrs. Howard, we're at the Family Court entrance. Where are you?" Alvin's tone was respectful, without a hint of impatience.
Margaret was stunned. Raymond actually came?
Just as she was about to speak, she saw a familiar car parked in the Family Court's spot.
Snow had started to fall from the sky.
The cold wind blew the snowflakes, swirling them in the air.
Alvin, dressed in a black suit, opened the door and held a phone in one hand and took out a black umbrella from the car with the other.
After closing the car door, Alvin opened the rear door.
A large black umbrella instantly covered Raymond as he stepped out of the car.
He wore a black coat over a suit, with a gray scarf around his neck.
His hair was slicked back with gel, perfectly in place.
His facial features were sharp, and he still looked annoyingly handsome.
He raised his wrist to check the time on his watch and asked Alvin, who was on the phone, "Where is she?"
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