Tarnished Armor
Part 160

Adam and Liza’s bedroom.

Liza enters. She begins to shut the door behind her. Adam pushes it open and enters.

He shuts the door behind him.

Adam: What the devil is going on here? When did this new twist occur to you?

Liza: It’s not a new twist. It was always part of the plan.

Adam: For me to ask you for a divorce?

Liza: For a divorce.

Adam: But Liza, we... we just made love.

Liza: How does it feel to be used, Adam?

Adam: What?

Liza: You’ll have visitation rights. And after a while, we’ll become cordial to one another.

Adam: No.

Liza: The shoe’s on the other foot, Adam. Unless you don’t want any rights at all. So you choose. A consensual “no-fault divorce” or I can be “innocent and injured.” That’s how it works in Pennsylvania. Something we’re both familiar with.

Adam: Non-consensual no-fault takes two years. And even if you proceed based on fault, I can drag it out for an even longer period.

Liza: At the end of which you’d find yourself with no parental rights, and Colby will have adjusted. Make your choice, but make it quickly. You have twenty-four hours. Then I file. I suggest we stick to the original pre-nuptial agreements. We’ll both walk away with what we came into the marriage with and what we’ve each accumulated.

Adam: What?

Liza: I have a wealth of grounds to choose from. So if you don’t want any of your dirty little secrets airing out in public, I suggest you contact Barry immediately.

Adam: Liza?

Liza: Take your pick. If I don’t have your answer by tomorrow night -- in the form of papers deliver to me --, I’ll start on my own. And now, if you’d please...

Adam: What?

Liza: Leave.

Adam: What?

Liza: I’ll be staying here. It’s better for Colby. You can stay in the house tonight, but after that, I’d suggest the Valley Inn.

Adam stays where he is, shocked.

Liza: Cheer up, Adam. I am the dumpee this time.

Adam slowly leaves the room.

Liza plays with her wedding ring.

 
Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Fifty Nine
Part One Hundred and Sixty One