Chapter 17 - A Marriage Without a Contract
The divorce became final on a Tuesday.
Ruby went to work.
Gideon made coffee.
Neither made it dramatic.
That was intentional.
At 10:04 a.m., Ruby received an email from her attorney.
Final decree entered.
She stared at the screen.
For the first time in nearly a year, she was Ruby Gallagher again.
Not Mrs. Rossi.
Not contract wife.
Not collateral.
Ruby.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
She called Gideon.
He answered.
“It’s final.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“My attorney works faster.”
“Show-off.”
Silence.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“No.”
“Same.”
Ruby smiled sadly.
Ending something false could still hurt when real things had grown inside it.
“What are you doing tonight?” Gideon asked.
“Working.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“You asked what changed after losing the empire.”
“Apparently nothing about your bossiness.”
“Dinner.”
Ruby smiled.
“Where?”
“Pier Twelve.”
Her heart moved.
“Seven?”
“Seven.”
He ended the call.
At six forty-five, Ruby left the office.
Jenny tried not to smile.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Why is everyone acting strange?”
“No reason.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes.
Marcus’s replacement suddenly became fascinated by a monitor.
Suspicious.
At Pier Twelve, lights glowed along the waterfront.
Not hundreds.
Simple strings.
Tables held candles.
The old office had been restored completely.
Her grandfather’s photograph hung on the wall.
Ruby entered.
Gideon stood alone.
No tuxedo.
Dark suit.
No tie.
Nervous.
That nearly made Ruby laugh.
“You look terrified.”
“I preferred federal prosecutors.”
“Comforting.”
He held out a chair.
They ate dinner.
Pasta.
The same meal they had cooked the night they first kissed.
Ruby noticed.
“Sentimental.”
“Leon arranged the menu.”
“Coward.”
“Yes.”
After dinner, Gideon took her outside.
The harbor was quiet.
Ruby expected a ring.
She realized that.
Then immediately became annoyed at herself.
Gideon stopped.
“I have something.”
There it was.
He reached into his jacket.
Pulled out—
A folder.
Ruby stared.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Gideon smiled.
“Open it.”
“No.”
“Ruby.”
“The last folder you gave me ruined six months of my life.”
“This one is different.”
She reluctantly opened it.
Inside was one page.
RELATIONSHIP TERMS.
Ruby burst out laughing.
“Oh my God.”
Gideon looked offended.
“Read.”
She did.
1. Separate finances unless mutually agreed.
2. Arguments may not be ended with “because I said so.”
3. No hidden corporate acquisition plans.
4. No calling either spouse collateral.
5. Pasta must be supervised by Ruby.
6. Gideon is prohibited from cutting garlic.
Ruby laughed until tears came.
Then she reached the last line.
7. This agreement has no legal force whatsoever.
Underneath:
Because love is not enforceable.
Ruby stopped laughing.
Gideon took the paper.
Then tore it in half.
“Just in case.”
She smiled through tears.
Then he reached into his pocket.
This time, a ring.
Not enormous.
Not designed to display wealth.
A simple antique diamond set in platinum.
“My mother’s.”
Ruby stared.
“She wore it?”
“Yes.”
“She was happy?”
“Sometimes.”
“That’s honest.”
“I’m trying.”
Gideon held the ring.
“Ruby Gallagher.”
She looked at him.
“The first time I asked you to marry me, I offered to erase your father’s debt.”
“Very romantic.”
“The second time, I have considerably less money.”
“Tragic.”
“I also have no port acquisition plan.”
“Promising.”
“And no three-year termination clause.”
“Risky.”
Gideon smiled.
Then became serious.
“I don’t want your company.”
Ruby’s eyes filled.
“I don’t want your ports.”
His voice lowered.
“I don’t want gratitude.”
He took her hand.
“I want mornings when you criticize my coffee.”
“I do.”
“I want you arguing with me when I’m wrong.”
“Often.”
“I want you beside me when things are terrible.”
Her smile broke.
“And I want the ordinary days I never knew I was allowed to want.”
Ruby cried quietly.
Gideon knelt.
No audience.
No reporters.
No commission.
“Will you marry me because you choose me?”
Ruby looked at him.
This was what freedom felt like.
Not being alone.
Being able to stay.
“Yes.”
Gideon closed his eyes.
Relief crossed his face.
Ruby laughed.
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Then stood.
She kissed him.
Applause erupted from inside the warehouse.
Ruby pulled back.
Her eyes widened.
Gideon looked guilty.
The doors opened.
Leon.
Jenny.
Margaret.
Thomas.
Employees.
Ruby stared.
“You said alone!”
Gideon shrugged.
“They were very quiet.”
Ruby punched his shoulder.
Everyone laughed.
Thomas approached carefully.
He looked healthier.
Humility changed him more than age had.
“I’m happy for you.”
Ruby hugged him.
Not because everything was repaired.
Because they were repairing it.
Later, Margaret raised champagne.
“To contracts.”
Everyone laughed.
She continued.
“May you read them carefully.”
More laughter.
“And may the most important promises never require one.”
Ruby looked at Gideon.
He squeezed her hand.
Their second wedding would happen in three months.
Small.
No newspapers.
No debt.
No acquisition.
But before that day arrived, Gideon received one final letter from federal prosecutors.
The Rossi case was closing.
One unresolved asset remained.
A hidden account established decades earlier by Gideon’s father.
Worth nearly thirty million dollars.
Legally, after forfeitures, Gideon had a potential claim.
Thirty million.
Enough to rebuild a smaller empire.
Ruby looked at him.
“What will you do?”
Gideon stared at the letter.
The old world had opened one last door.
May you like
And he had to decide whether to walk through it.
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