Divorce Over a Bow on a Coat Chapter 01

Divorce Over a Bow on a Coat Chapter 01

For my daughter Sophia’s birthday, my husband, Walker, bought her a thousand-dollar cashmere coat.

When I saw it, I announced, in front of everyone at the party, that I wanted a divorce.

Walker froze for a second, then laughed and pulled out another coat. This one was adult-sized.

“Darling, I bought one for you, too. Same style. Yours was more expensive, better material.”

I pointed to the bow on Sophia’s coat and insisted, “I want a divorce.”

“You’re serious? Over a bow? You want a divorce over a bow?”

The once-lively party fell silent. Sophia grabbed the hem of my skirt, sobbing.

“Mom, I don’t want any more birthdays. I don’t want the gift. Please don’t leave Dad, okay?”

I pushed her away.

Seeing Sophia fall to the floor, my father raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

“All this over a piece of clothing? Are you out of your mind?”

My head snapped to the side, my ear ringing. But I didn’t take it back.

“Yes. I want a divorce.”

…

“Odessa, please don’t do this.”
“You know your father has a bad heart. Please, don’t upset him.”

Walker tried to reason with me, his eyes darting nervously toward my father.

The relatives around us began to murmur.

“It’s just a bow. What’s the big deal?”

“Is she jealous of her own daughter? It’s the girl’s birthday, and he even bought her a matching one. What more does she want?”

“The entitlement is unbelievable.”

“Poor Robert. He hasn’t had it easy with her.”

I heard them, but their words changed nothing.

“That’s not my problem. I’m getting a divorce.”

With that, I grabbed my bag and walked out without a backward glance.

I’d barely stepped outside before a small pair of arms wrapped around my leg.

“Mom, please don’t divorce Dad, okay?”

“It’s all my fault. If I didn’t have a birthday, you wouldn’t be angry.”

Sophia had chased me out, crying so hard she could barely form the words.

I hesitated for a beat.

Sophia had always been such a good girl. She rarely gave me a moment’s worry.

“Odessa, you don’t have a job.”

“If you insist on this, the judge will almost certainly give me custody of Sophia.”

“Did something happen? Just tell me. We can face it together.”

Walker had followed us out. His tone was soothing, but the words were a clear threat.

I looked down at Sophia’s tear-streaked face and pried her arms off my leg.

“I don’t want her, Walker. You don’t have to use our daughter to threaten me.”

“I’ve already contacted a lawyer. He’s drafting the agreement now.”

“This divorce is happening.”

“I don’t understand you.”

I went home to pack, but my father was already there, waiting for me.

“Walker is a good man. Why are you doing this?”

“Your mother died so young… I raised you on my own. Can’t you just stop making trouble?”

My father took my hand, his grip pleading.

“I’m just getting a divorce. This has nothing to do with you.”

I kept packing.

He suddenly let go, his hand trembling as he pulled a folded paper from his pocket.

I glanced down.

It was a late-stage cancer diagnosis.