The days ticked by, and it wasn''t just Stewart and York waiting for Charlene''s


    divorce-Granger was counting down, too.


    Granger, in fact, knew the exact date: Thursday. That was when Charlene and


    Thorne were supposed to sign their divorce papers.


    He''d been traveling for work a lottely, hardly ever in town. But this week, he


    made a point of catching the red-eye back, arriving home in the early hours of


    Thursday morning. After a few hours'' rest, sometime after ten, he tried to distract


    himself with work. But eventually, impatience got the better of him, and he dialed


    Moran Albright''s number.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve caught up with you and Thorne," Granger said, aiming


    for casual. "How about lunch today? Let''s invite Thorne too."


    Moran replied, "I''m free, but Thorne can''t make it. He''s overseas on business-


    left a few days ago and still hasn''te back."


    A knot formed in Granger''s chest. "Thorne''s... out of the country?"


    So, they hadn''t gone through with the divorce today after all?


    Granger had kept his distance from Thorne and the resttely. He''d called Moran


    partly to fish for news about the divorce. If it was finalized, maybe today would be


    his chance-


    But things hadn''t gone as he''d hoped.


    "So, any idea when Thorne''sing back?" he pressed.


    Moran, who was no longer as invested in the whole divorce saga as he''d been at


    the start, just shrugged it off. "No clue. You know how hectic he gets around this


    time every year-no telling how long he''ll be gone."


    Granger stared down at his phone, suddenly silent.


    After hanging up, he looked at Charlene''s number in his contacts. He''d thought


    today might finally be the day he could call her. But now, it seemed he''d have to


    wait a little longer.


    Busy days always seemed to pass in a blur.


    Friday afternoon, Charlene was at work when Jasmine called. School had just let


    out for summer break, and with Thorne out of town, Jasmine wanted toe stay


    with her.


    Charlene turned her down.


    From what Thorne had said on the


    phone a few days ago, he''d already


    been away on business for several


    days, She''d assumed he''d be back


    soon, but another week had slipped


    by and still, there was no sign of


    him.


    Jasmine spent a few days alone at


    home after school let out but quickly


    grew restless. By Wednesday, she


    called Charlene again: "Mom, Dad''s


    been gone for ages. I don''t like being


    home by myself. Can Ie stay


    with you?"


    The loneliness in her daughter''s voice made Charlene''s grip on the phone tighten.


    After a pause, she replied, "I''lle home right after work. For now, go stay with


    your grandma, okay?"


    Hearing her mother finally agree, Jasmine cheered up and hurried to pack her


    things for the Ross family house.


    Of course, Thorne''s unexpected business trip-and the resulting dy in


    finalizing the divorce-hadn''t gone unnoticed by the Ross family.


    That evening, over dinner, the old matriarch couldn''t help but ask Jasmine,


    "Minnie, do you have any idea when your father''sing home?"


    Jasmine, oblivious to the


    undercurrents among the adults,


    answered between bites, "Dad said


    he''s not sure. When I called him


    yesterday, he said he probably


    wouldn''t make it back in time for my


    birthday."


    Helena frowned at that.


    The mandatory waiting period was nearly over, and still there was no word on


    Thorne''s return. Would he really not be back until after the deadline?


    If so, would they have to wait through another cooling-off period before they could


    finally get divorced?


    Charlene caught the implication, and her brow furrowed as well.