Chapter 27

Garret knocked on Monica’s apartment door. It had been over 48 hours since his parents and grandfather had discovered them on the sofa. He hadn’t seen Monica since dropping her off at her apartment, after leaving Coulson House.

“I was wondering when you’d come by,” Monica said after opening the front door. “Come on in.”

Garret followed her into the living room.

“You want a cup of coffee?” she asked, before sitting on the couch.

“No thanks.” Garret looked around the room. He knew his father had paid for her apartment.

“I still have a headache. How about you? Go ahead, sit down,” Monica told him. She wore denims and a T-shirt. With her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked even younger than before.

“Thanks,” Garret sat down.

“So, is your dad still screaming? I was really afraid he would come over here.”

“I don’t think he will. I told him not to bother you.”

“So, what are we going to do?” Monica asked.

“Well, my grandfather and father have been on my case all day about getting the marriage annulled.”

“Yeah, I figured that. Umm… I have a question… did we… you know… have sex?” Monica asked.

“You don’t remember?”

“No, it’s all kind of a blur.”

“Well, not after we said our vows. But before, at the airport…in the car…while waiting for the pilot. Yeah. Sorry.”

“Oh fuck.” Monica rubbed her temple with the heel of her hand.

“I’m sorry, Monica. Honestly.”

“It isn’t your fault. I’m as much to blame. Did you use a condom?”

“We did, but I seem to recall it fell off in the middle of things. We were rather…umm…anxious to continue, I don’t remember a second one.”

“Can we still get an annulment since we had sex?”

“I don’t know. But I think we should wait. Just in case you’re pregnant.”

“If I’m pregnant, your father is going to kill me.”

“Fuck my father.”

“I did that already. That’s what got me into this mess.”

“When do I get to meet your wife?” Russell asked Garret. It was Saturday and the two brothers were playing golf.

“I told you, you aren’t going to meet her. And I hope you aren’t telling people I got married.” Garret climbed into the golf cart, waiting for his brother to join him.

“No, but I heard it from Regina.” Russell climbed into the cart.

“She’s the new girl working in the kitchen?” Garret steered the cart to the next hole.

“Yeah. I have a feeling she likes to talk.”

“Well, she won’t keep her job long. You know how mom is about the staff gossiping about family business.”

“I know. So what’s the deal? Dad says it was just one of your stunts, and you’re getting it annulled.”

“Dad doesn’t know shit.”

“So do you love her?”

“Russell, can we please talk about something else?”

“I’m not pregnant,” Monica told Garret when he arrived at her apartment on Sunday.

“You sure?” Garret asked. Monica rolled her eyes and showed Garret into the apartment.

“So are your parents freaking out, us still not doing anything about the marriage?”

“Pretty much.” Garret sat with Monica in the living room. “I swear, if I hear my father say annulment one more time I’m going to stay married to you.

“Well I think I have something to say about that.”

“What do you plan to do—after?” Garret asked.

“Leave Coulson. There’s nothing for me here. But I confess….this may sound strange…but I wish we could get a divorce instead of annulment.”

Garret’s inquisitive expression startled her.

“Oh no, I am not saying that because I want alimony or anything. Honest. I don’t want anything from you. This was my fault as much as yours. Annulments…well I always thought they were something people got who wanted a free pass to have sex.”

“That… well is a little odd... considering…”

“Considering I was sleeping with your father? Yeah, I know,” Monica admitted.

“Actually, I’d be okay with a divorce. Might take a little longer.”

“Is that because your father wants you to get an annulment?”

“What do you think?” Garret asked.

“You wanted to talk to me, Grandfather?” Garret asked as he entered Randall’s office at Coulson Enterprises.

“Yes, go ahead and sit down, Garret.”

Garret took the chair facing Randall’s desk.

“I’ve been pleased with your work here. I’m very impressed.”

“Thank you.” Garret smiled.

“Now, if we could just get your private life in order.” Randall eyed his grandson with keen interest.

“Is this about the annulment again? If so, I think I’ll get back to work.” Garret started to stand up.

“No, sit down, young man. I’ll tell you when you can go.”

With a sigh, Garret sat back down.

“I want you to know I blame your father more than you.”

“You do?” Garret was surprised.

“I know your grandmother was upset when your father married your mother. I suppose the conditions weren’t ideal.”

“Because she was pregnant with Harrison?”

“Things like that happen. And it worked out. She gave him three sons. Three fine sons. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

“Even if I’m one of those sons?” Garret asked.

“I’ll admit, you’ve been the wildest of the bunch. But you might end up being the smartest. That is of course, if you can stop doing stupid things.”

Garret laughed.

“So, are you going to get an annulment, or are you going to stay in this marriage to punish your father.”

“Is that what I’m doing?” Garret asked.

“Isn’t it?”

Garret shrugged. “I was thinking of getting a divorce.”

“Divorce? Why? I imagine that would take longer and cost more money. But if you keep putting it off, it might end up being your only option.”

“I have my reasons, Grandfather.”

“It might mean alimony. You don’t want that.”

“She doesn’t want any.”

“What does she intend to do after the marriage ends? Is she staying in town?”

“She says she wants to leave. I don’t know where she intends to go.”

They were silent for a few moments as Randall considered the situation.

“I’ll tell you what. Let me talk to my attorney, get the divorce going. I’ll cover all the expenses—he’ll make sure you won’t have any future support problems. And I’ll give her a settlement, to help her start a new life.”

“Why would you do that, Grandfather?”

“You’re my grandson, Garret. I protect what’s mine.”

“Can we not tell my father…until it’s over?”

“You want to let him stew about it longer?” Randall asked.

“I suppose.”

“Fine. It’ll be between us. Harrison doesn’t have to know the details. When the divorce is final, you can tell your father.”

“Okay. But I’m going to tell my mother this afternoon.” Garret told him.

“That might be a good idea.”

Garret’s arrival at Coulson House surprised Vera. Sitting in the sunroom reading a magazine when he arrived, she was the only member of the family at home. It was the first time they had seen each other since she had found him on the couch with Monica.

“Garret,” Vera closed the magazine and set it on her lap. “I’m surprised to see you. How are you… how is your wife?”

“That’s why I’m here Mother. We need to talk.”

Vera nodded and then tossed the magazine on the floor. She watched as Garret took the chair across from her.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said.

“I don’t blame you.”

“I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” he said under his breath.

“Excuse me?” She hadn’t heard what he had said.

“It doesn’t matter. I want to explain what happened and why.”

“Are you staying married to this woman?”

“No. But for now, I would appreciate it if you not say anything to Dad. Grandfather is arranging a divorce, and Monica has agreed to everything. She wants out of this fake marriage as much as I do. She plans to leave town.”

“Why not an annulment?”

“We have our reasons, but that’s not important. I just want to tell you why it happened.”

“I think I can guess,” Vera told him. “Your father broke it off with her, you two—for whatever reason—got drunk together and came up with the brilliant idea of getting married to punish your father.”

“Wow. That pretty much sums up the situation.”

They were silent for a few moments.

“I wonder,” Vera said sadly. “Why can’t our family have normal marriages?”

“Normal? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Like other couples I see. Happy marriages, where they are both friends and lovers. It seems impossible in this family.”

“Well, there was Grandfather and Grandma Mary Ellen.”

Vera reached out and briefly touched her son’s knee. “Your grandmother never liked me. I suppose I can understand why. She always believed I had some devious plans for her only son. But the fact was, her marriage with your grandfather was peculiar. Perhaps just as peculiar as mine…and yours.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“It doesn’t matter now. I was just hoping my sons’ marriages would be different.”