Chapter 20: A Void Marriage

Stevie's POV

Davis made pancakes at one in the afternoon, because we had driven all the way from Boston and he said breakfast was a state of mind.

He stood at the stove in the kitchen I had painted yellow.

He wore the cardigan with the pen leak and an apron that said KISS THE COOK.

Posy had picked it out for him at a yard sale.

He flipped a pancake without looking.

"Sit," he said. "Both of you."

He pointed the spatula.

"Declan, you're on the left. The chair on the right wobbles, and I want you to have to think about your balance."

"I'll manage," Declan said.

"You will or you'll fall off. I'll be neutral."

Posy was already in her seat with a pancake shaped like a rabbit and a fork in her fist.

She looked from me to Declan.

She grinned, and put a strawberry in her mouth.

Davis slid a plate in front of each of us, and then poured himself coffee and sat down.

He put a folder on the table beside the syrup.

"I've written it up," he said. "Three pages. Don't read it yet. Let me say it."

"Davis."

"Hush, Steph. I've been practicing in the shower."

He folded his hands.

"Here is the plan," he said. "Our marriage is void, and a void marriage needs no divorce, which I find very economical."

"So what do you file?"

"One affidavit, saying we were both mistaken. That's the end of it."

"The end of what?"

"The end of Mr. and Mrs. Ferris." He smiled, crookedly. "I'll miss her. She made excellent pie."

I put my fork down.

I had thought I was ready.

I found I was not ready at all.

"Posy stays with me," he said. "I'm her father."

"Of course."

"But on paper she will have a second guardian, named in my will and in a trust. The name on both is Stephanie."

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