“Thank you. When’s your wedding?” I watch as he slides our divorce papers into a folder and tucks it inside his messenger bag on the front seat.
He grins at me over the roof of the car. “We’re eloping to Tahiti in December.”
“Of course you are. Send me pictures.”
I wave as he drives away.
My past and present have been on a collision course for a while, but I didn’t anticipate such a spectacular crash. I’m emotionally drained by the last hour.
I really need to find Odin and tell him the whole truth.
If he’s speaking to me.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Daphne
Driving up the long unpaved road, I spot Odin sitting in his chair on the porch. Patsy and Roman stand near the steps, two sentries guarding their master. The afternoon is bright but chilly, and I’m surprised to find him outside.
I park the NPS vehicle next to his truck. Near the tailgate, I pause, unsure if he even wants to see me.
He stands and leans against one of the posts. “Hi. Wasn’t expecting you.”
“Can we talk?”
“Where’s your husband?” His stares down at me, his tone not exactly friendly.
I close my eyes, willing the tears to subside. “He left. I signed the divorce papers, and I’m not married anymore. I can explain if you let me.”
He bobs his head once. “Want something to drink?”
“Water?” I’m not sure why it comes out as a question.
“Be right back.” He leaves me standing in the yard while he goes inside.
A few hours ago, we were lying in bed, basking in the feeling of saying I love you for the first time. I wish we’d never left. I wish I’d never checked my texts.
I climb the steps to the porch and take a seat in the chair next to Odin’s. Patsy sniffs my hand and Roman climbs into my lap. At least they still like me.
Odin returns with two glasses of water.
As soon as he sits, I begin talking. “Remember when I said I grew up pretty conservatively?”
“I do. You’ve always been vague about your past. You never talk about your family, and I assumed you’re estranged. Didn’t pry because if anyone can understand, it would be me.”
Of course he’s sympathetic. The man has the biggest heart even if he won’t admit it.
“I may have downplayed my upbringing. My family is part of an ultra-conservative religious sect in Idaho.”
His brows draw together. “Like one of those cults the FBI investigates and someone makes a documentary about?”
“Yes, probably.”
“Whoa.” He doesn’t hide his shock.
“I know.” Briefly, I meet his eyes before returning my stare to my hands in my lap. “I told you I left home at eighteen for college. That’s true and also not the whole truth.”
“You lied?”
“Not exactly.” I cringe, hating how easily I slipped into the gray area between truth and lies with him.
“Did you run away?”
“I was legally an adult, so technically, no, but Isaac and I left home together. My family doesn’t believe in education for girls. We were homeschooled, mostly in domestic arts, and then when we turned eighteen, we were expected to get married and start a family of our own.”
“That’s when you married Isaac?”
“Kind of.”
He squints at me. “I’m going to need you to clarify more.”
“He wasn’t supposed to be my betrothed even though we’d grown up together and were friendly. Boys had to prove themselves in the community before taking a wife. Most girls my age married older men who were already established and could afford to provide for a wife and children.”
Odin grimaces. “Like an arranged marriage?”
“I guess. My parents had to approve any suitor.”
“They were okay with an older man dating their teenage daughter?” His anger simmers in his eyes.
“No dating,” I clarify. “More of a formal courtship, with chaperones.”
His mouth drops open. “Are you from the past? Like a time traveler?”
His disbelief makes me laugh.
“No, this is still happening today.”
“Next you’ll tell me about sister-wives,” he jokes, uneasy.
I stare at him blankly.
“You’re kidding.”
My smile betrays my serious expression. “No sister-wives for us.”
“That’s a relief. Please continue.” He flicks his hand to encourage me.
“The man who came forward to court me was nice enough, but the only thing we had in common was talking about the weather and our church.”
“How did you manage to convince them to let you marry Isaac?”
“I didn’t. They would never have listened to my opinion because I’m a woman. Isaac came up with a plan to help us protect each other.”
“Why would he need protection?”
I ignore his question for now. “If we married each other, it would legally be bigamy for me to marry my betrothed.”
“Smart.”
“We went to the courthouse in town, got a license, and found a justice of the peace who would perform a civil ceremony. Our hope was our families would honor the marriage, even if it wasn’t done in the church.”
“And did they?”
I shake my head. “My father and the elders declared it invalid in the eyes of God and they wanted us to have it annulled. Even when I said I didn’t love the other man and that I loved Isaac, they wouldn’t respect our vows. My mother warned if I took him as my husband, she’d turn her back on me and I’d be shunned.”
“Harsh.”
I shrug, refusing to let that wound reopen. “They played right into our plan. It all went exactly as we imagined.”
Confused, he blinks at me. “Your goals was to be an outcast?”
“I wanted freedom. If they had approved of the union, leaving would’ve been even more difficult.”
Comprehension sparks in his gaze. “But if they threw you out, you’d be free.”
“Exactly.”
“Why stay married? Why not get divorced, or get it annulled as soon as you were out on your own?”
“Isaac and I were all each other had in the world. It felt safe to have that slip of paper from the government. If we separated, I worried my father would find out and force me to return home—not that any man would want to marry a divorced woman who wasn’t a virgin.”
“So you and he … ” He doesn’t have to finish his question for me to know what he’s asking.
“Never.”
“But you were married.”
“Isaac’s gay.”
He stares across the field at the mountains. “That’s why he wanted to escape, too.”
“Exactly.”
“And people call us Appalachian hillbillies backward. Your families makes mine almost seem normal.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Still doesn’t explain why you’re still legally married to him.”
“Honestly, it never felt like a real marriage. We stood in front of a random guy and said some words, he signed a piece of paper and the state of Idaho declared us husband and wife. I love Isaac with my whole heart … like a brother. He’s been my best friend, and for a long time, he was my only friend. By being married, we got an on campus apartment in college, and I could be on his health plan when I only worked part-time for the NPS. There were a lot of benefits.”