Ex-Husband, Inc

The dining room smelled of lamb and expensive wine. Marcus Kane sat at the end of the table in the seat that had once been his at a dinner that was meant to be Marcus Kanes last one here. Nobody looked sad about that.

"To beginnings " Gerald Sinclair said. He raised his glass high like a man giving a speech to a crowd of his own family. "For all of us." Glasses clinked. Diane smiled behind her glass. Vanessa did not even try to hide her grin.

Marcus lifted his water glass an inch off the table set it back down. Nobody noticed. Nobody was looking at Marcus. That was the point of tonight as far as they were concerned. The paperwork was signed the marriage was over and Marcus Kane was already halfway out the door in their minds.

"Three years " Gerald said, shaking his head like the number amused him. "Three years we kept waiting for Marcus to do something with himself Marcus. I'll give you this. Marcus was patient. Patient at doing nothing."

A soft laugh went around the table. Even the housekeeper, refilling water glasses near the wall kept her eyes down. Her face still.

Marcus said nothing. Marcus picked up his fork. Cut a piece of lamb like the words hadn't landed anywhere near Marcus.

"Dad." Naomis voice was flat. Naomi wasn't laughing. Naomi wasn't defending Marcus either. Naomi was just tired. Marcus could see that much. Tired of her father tired of this table maybe tired of Marcus too. Marcus didn't blame Naomi for any of it. Naomi didn't know what Marcus knew. Nobody at this table knew what Marcus knew.

"I'm only saying what everyones thinking " Gerald said, spreading his hands like he was being generous. "Man works construction jobs on and off for three years married into this family. Never once asks for a real job at Sinclair Group. Never asks Marcus for anything. You'd think a man in his position would want to build something."

"Maybe he likes building things with his hands " Diane said sweetly. That got a bigger laugh than it deserved.

Marcus chewed his lamb. It was lamb. Gerald always did keep a table.

"I built something " Marcus said quietly.

The table went a little quiet the way it does when someone says something nobody expected. Vanessa raised an eyebrow. Gerald leaned back in his chair amused.

"Did you " Gerald said. "What's that then? A birdhouse?"

More laughing. Marcus let it pass over Marcus like weather. Marcus had sat through three years of dinners like this one. Marcus knew how to wait.

"Something like that " Marcus. Went back to his lamb.

Naomi was watching Marcus now Marcus could feel it. Marcus didn't look up. There wasn't anything Marcus could say to Naomi tonight that would matter. Not yet.

Gerald lost interest fast the way Gerald always did once Gerald had made his point. Gerald turned back to Vanessa asking about the country clubs fall gala and the tables attention slid away from Marcus like Marcus had never been part of the conversation all.

That suited Gerald fine.

Marcus finished his plate. Marcus said thank you to the housekeeper Mrs. Alcott, the way Marcus always did and Mrs. Alcott gave Marcus the nod back like they had a secret between them. Maybe they did.

When dinner ended nobody walked Marcus to the door. Naomi caught up with Marcus in the hallway arms crossed, her heels loud on the marble floor.

"You didn't have to sit through that " she said.

"It's fine."

"It's not fine Marcus. Marcus humiliated you at your own. " Naomi stopped. Naomi corrected herself. "At what used to be Marcus dinner "

"I've been humiliated before " Marcus said. "I'll live."

She looked at Marcus for a moment like she was trying to read something on Marcus face that wasn't there anymore. Whatever she used to see in Marcus three years of her fathers dinners had worn it down to something she couldn't recognize.

"I hope you figure out what you want to do with yourself " she said finally. It wasn't cruel. It just sounded like the truth, to her.

"I already know " Marcus said.

Marcus almost smiled at that like it was a joke. Maybe it was, to her. Marcus let Naomi think whatever Naomi wanted. It was easier that way. It wouldn't be true for much longer.

Outside the night was cold. Marcus walked to his truck. Ten years one door a different color than the rest. And sat behind the wheel without starting the engine.

His phone buzzed.

Teddy Osei: Boards when you are. Vales people are already circling the HQ lease. We need a decision by Monday.

Marcus looked back at the house behind Marcus. Warm light in every window. Laughter Marcus could still hear faintly through the glass.

He typed back three words.

Marcus: Take the lease.

Marcus set the phone in the cup holder started the truck and pulled away from the house that as of Monday morning would belong to Marcus. Whether the people, inside the house knew that yet or not.

They didn't. Not one of them.

Not yet.