The day after her belongings were delivered to the new home, Rosie sat in the office of Mr. Taylor, attorney at law.
"Ms. Steele, just sign right here."
Shaking her head, and looking up at the bespectacled attorney. "Pardon?"
Mr. Taylor had been a very nice man and had listened to Rosie's story. He assured her that her story was not uncommon. That was not necessarily reassuring or comforting to her. But she was here to protect what little interests she had: O'Dell's Deli.
"Mr. Taylor, can't we just nullify the marriage? Why divorce papers?"
She couldn't understand it. And he explained to her that the marriage had been consumated. And because of that, it could not be nullified. Rosie had flushed brilliant scarlet when he discussed it like it was an everyday thing. Perhaps for Mr. Taylor, but not for Rosie.
"To be able to protect your business, certain provisions will be added to the documents. I should have them available later today."
That had been this morning. Now she was sitting in his office, wearing her uniform. The luncheon that was being served was not without her supervision and she was anxious to get back. So lifting a pen, she signed where he indicated. Again, and again and again. The provision stating she was taking back her maiden name, she hesitated for just a moment, and then, it too was signed.
"There's one other thing, Ms. Steele. Mr. Steele needs to sign these too. Where can we forward the papers to?"
Rosie's posture sagged at that question. "I haven't a clue. If you can find him, more power to you. Do we have to have his signature?"
Mr. Taylor smiled at sympathetically, tenting his fingertips together, pursing his lips. "Well if we don't hear anything from him in, say, 90 days or so, then the court will proceed and grant your divorce. Usually."
Rosie hated hearing that, but what else could she do? She thanked Mr. Taylor and was getting ready to leave when he spoke up again.
"Uh, Ms. Steele. Just be careful who you are seen with and of your actions in public. You really don't want to allow him any sort of edge. If you want to keep your Deli, that is."
Turning to look at her attorney, she nodded. "I'll be careful. Thank you."
Taking a mint from a bowl on the paralegal's desk, she smiled a thank you to the girl and walked out of the office.
She needed to talk to Dean.
"Ms. Steele, just sign right here."
Shaking her head, and looking up at the bespectacled attorney. "Pardon?"
Mr. Taylor had been a very nice man and had listened to Rosie's story. He assured her that her story was not uncommon. That was not necessarily reassuring or comforting to her. But she was here to protect what little interests she had: O'Dell's Deli.
"Mr. Taylor, can't we just nullify the marriage? Why divorce papers?"
She couldn't understand it. And he explained to her that the marriage had been consumated. And because of that, it could not be nullified. Rosie had flushed brilliant scarlet when he discussed it like it was an everyday thing. Perhaps for Mr. Taylor, but not for Rosie.
"To be able to protect your business, certain provisions will be added to the documents. I should have them available later today."
That had been this morning. Now she was sitting in his office, wearing her uniform. The luncheon that was being served was not without her supervision and she was anxious to get back. So lifting a pen, she signed where he indicated. Again, and again and again. The provision stating she was taking back her maiden name, she hesitated for just a moment, and then, it too was signed.
"There's one other thing, Ms. Steele. Mr. Steele needs to sign these too. Where can we forward the papers to?"
Rosie's posture sagged at that question. "I haven't a clue. If you can find him, more power to you. Do we have to have his signature?"
Mr. Taylor smiled at sympathetically, tenting his fingertips together, pursing his lips. "Well if we don't hear anything from him in, say, 90 days or so, then the court will proceed and grant your divorce. Usually."
Rosie hated hearing that, but what else could she do? She thanked Mr. Taylor and was getting ready to leave when he spoke up again.
"Uh, Ms. Steele. Just be careful who you are seen with and of your actions in public. You really don't want to allow him any sort of edge. If you want to keep your Deli, that is."
Turning to look at her attorney, she nodded. "I'll be careful. Thank you."
Taking a mint from a bowl on the paralegal's desk, she smiled a thank you to the girl and walked out of the office.
She needed to talk to Dean.