Chapter 3: Resolution and Healing

The sign outside the residential-looking structure read: Theresa Argyle—Attorney at Law. Below her name; Criminal Defense—DUI—Family Law—Personal Injury.

He parked his truck and trailer along the street and grabbed the parcel while Bandi squatted by the sidewalk. He tried to put her back inside, but she walked towards the law firm. He followed, muttering, “Behave!” as he approached the door. A sign said Come on In, and he pushed the door open stepping into a reception area where a middle-aged woman was seated behind a desk. His nose was immediately buffeted with the familiar essence of vanilla and spice.

She glanced up at him and smiled, “Good afternoon. How can we help you?” Her hair was red once, but she had chosen to age gracefully, letting it fade to gray.

He hesitated in the doorway, feeling uncomfortable. “Hi,” he stammered. Bandi rubbed against his leg, and he glanced down. “Uh, can my dog come in? She gets upset when I leave her—”

“Of course,” the woman said, and her face lit up as the mutt strutted into the office confidently. Wearing a long floral print dress, she stepped from behind the desk, kneeling. She was greeted with a wet nose, pink tongue, and swishy tail. “Oh, goodness, how precious! What’s her name?”

“That’s Bandi,” he replied, looking around. There was a short hallway behind the desk with an open door. He thought he heard typing coming from it. “I’m uh, Vince,” he added. “Vincent Hargrove.” He sensed a brief hesitation as the woman straightened and faced him. Her expression hid her feelings as she returned to her seat.

“I’m Melany, Mrs. Argyle’s paralegal,” she said. “How can we help you today?”

He held the parcel tightly as he considered his words. “Um ... Do you offer free consultations—” He felt like an idiot as he stumbled with his words, “—or something?” He didn’t notice the typing had stopped.

“Certainly,” Melany replied with a thin smile, eyeing the packet. “I’m happy to offer basic legal advice. Once I understand your concerns, we can consult with Mrs. Argyle.” She glanced at the parcel, but he held onto it, oblivious.

“I got this in the mail this morning,” he waved the packet. She reached out her hand, but he wasn’t looking at her. “My ex is in California now and wants an annulment ... or something,” he stammered. Finally, he glanced back at her. “But I don’t understand half the words they used, and I just want to make sure everything is cool before I sign anything, ya know?”

“Indeed,” she replied confidently, glancing back at the packet. “It’s wise to have something that important reviewed by a legal expert. May I see the documents?”

He nodded and handed her the parcel.

“Have a seat,” she offered, pointing to a plush chair. He moved woodenly and sat. Bandi jumped into his lap, panting softly as he gazed at the woman, wrestling with his doubts. He touched his jaw, realizing he hadn’t shaved in over two months. His last haircut was even longer than that. Glancing down, he self-consciously noticed his heavily stained and frayed pants. He didn’t have the nerve to smell himself before the woman, but he was sure his hygiene was lacking.

Melany slipped the papers from the thick envelope and sat back to read. She pursed her lips as she read quickly and glanced at her calendar.

“You’re approaching your first anniversary,” she stated flatly, wisely choosing not to congratulate him. “You were married in Hood River County, but the license was issued at the Marion County Courthouse in Salem.”

He nodded blankly, not hearing a question.

“Are you legally separated or pursuing dissolution?”

He blinked back when she glanced at him expectantly. “Um ... no, I don’t think so ... it’s kinda complicated.”

She pursed her lips and turned back to the form.

Vince looked up at the soft footsteps approaching from the carpeted hallway. A younger woman with short-cropped red hair appeared behind the desk. She wore minimal makeup but didn’t need it. She looked younger than expected, maybe in her late twenties or barely thirty. She wore a business casual suit with pants and had a figure that suggested recent childbirth but was hardly out of shape. Her crisp green eyes stood out in the frames of her glasses. The woman seated at the desk was older, and he thought he sensed a familial resemblance.

“What have we got, Aunt Mel?” the younger woman asked in a voice that seemed out of place. Her tone was soft, but he suddenly felt uneasy about her snooping around in his business.

‘This was a mistake, ’ he decided, resisting the urge to scratch his neck as he felt a bead of sweat inside his collar.

“Hi, I’m Theresa Argyle,” she smiled at him as the other woman handed her the papers. She took them confidently and glanced at them briefly. “A Petition for Annulment (without Children) and a Summons.” She turned and gestured to him with her free hand. “Why don’t you come back, and we can review this for a bit.”

She stopped after her first step, returning to find him looking awkward and undecided. She smiled back at him, “Relax. We must inform you in writing before we take you to the cleaners,” she grinned, “This is a freebie.”

He blushed as he followed her into a plain but well-appointed office with a big Kennedy desk at the center. Nearly a dozen bookcases full of books lined the walls behind it and to either side. The office occupied a corner of the house, and the bookcases blocked both windows.

“Have a seat,” she said absently as she walked behind her desk and sat down, reading the entire time. She was finished when he sat in her nice chair and accepted Bandi back in his lap. “She’s adorable, what’s her name?”

“They called her Bandi, short for Bandit, at the shelter,” he replied. “She’s comfortable with it, so we’ll keep it.”

“Can she have a treat?” the attorney asked as she reached into a drawer and produced a thin brown stick resembling a Slim Jim. “Organic and no rawhide,” she added as the pup sat properly, her ears perked up, staring back at her intently.

“Yeah, sure,” he replied, reaching for it. ‘Can’t say no now.’

Bandi took the chew gently and settled down to begin gnawing happily.

“So, what I see here is a Petition for Annulment by a single party,” she stated as she gazed at him. Her eyes were unsettling to him. “That would be your estranged spouse,” she concluded. “A Joint Petition is when both parties file for the annulment and part ways amicably. And since she is in California and you are not, I assume your separation was anything but amicable.”

“Yeah,” he snorted, “You could say that.”

“Well, as it stands, this can be a done deal once you sign it. Our office can notarize and send it back, and you’ll be free when it’s received and recorded by the court clerk.”

“That’s it?” he asked. “What about the Summons?” He sensed her dry humor as she picked up the second set of forms.

“If you choose not to sign and contest the petition, you must respond to the Summons. In Absentia means you can file motions and communicate without traveling to California.

“She called me incompetent!” he growled. “I’m not the one who fucking cheated and got caught!” he blushed and apologized for cursing.

“Not the first time I’ve heard the F word, Mr. Hargrove. Or do you prefer Vincent?”

“Vince is fine,” he grumbled.

“Okay.” She set the forms aside and clasped her hands as she gazed at him calmly. “I think it’s important to explain the difference between an annulment and a dissolution or divorce.” She paused. “But before we start, can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee?”

His eyes lit up, and he nodded, “Coffee sounds amazing!”

She smiled and stood. He noticed a coffee service between two bookcases, and she stepped over to it, placing a pod in a machine and a mug beneath it. She continued speaking as she pushed a button and waited for the machine to finish making his drink.

“Oregon is a no-fault state, so matters of infidelity have no bearing in a divorce. You can request a dissolution, which will be granted. It’s more complicated with children, and parental plans and division of assets need to be agreed upon. This is the same for an annulment, but in your case, there are no children and, apparently—no assets.” She handed him the coffee after he declined cream and sugar. “I’m curious about that,” she added as she returned and made herself a cup.

He felt more at ease after taking a sip.

“For an annulment, a reason must be stated for the court to declare that the marriage never occurred. There are various reasons for an annulment, including bigamy, incest, duress, fraud, forced consent, denial of rights, etcetera. You can even file for lack of consummation. In this case, her attorney chose fraud and wrote in abandonment, which seems unnecessary and spiteful.”

“Yeah,” he snorted. “Surprising, too. She must have glossed over the details with her attorney because there’s no way in hell she wants to start poking that bear.”

“What are those ‘details?’” she asked. “You mentioned infidelity. Can you elaborate?”

He paused to sip his coffee and glanced at her mantel clock. “I don’t think we have time—”

“I told you this visit is free. You asked for legal consultation; I’ll provide it as a courtesy. But I need to know everything first.” She placed her cup on the desk and leaned forward. “Fill me in on what destroyed your relationship—before it started.”

He sighed and crossed his legs without disturbing his furry companion. “Okay,” he exhaled. “You might want to take notes.”

“I have an excellent memory,” she smirked.

He spent the next forty-five minutes explaining his involvement with his estranged wife, their romance, and their comfortable relationship. She halted him several times when she felt he glossed over important details. When he finished, he realized he had given her an incredibly detailed account of his relationship. He sat back and sipped his coffee while she studied him.

“Kelly was ... or is a nurse?” she asked.

He nodded.

“And she was having an affair with a coworker at the hospital?”

“I have proof.” He had already given her a detailed account of the surveillance conducted by him and the PI and how he had organized it into a portfolio.

“Did they ever hook up at work?”

He blinked at her, “Did they fuck in the hospital? Hell yeah! Without a doubt.”

“Do you have any proof of this?”

He nodded confidently. “A digital image from a cell phone shows him bending her over a desk in a control room where they do CAT scans,” he replied. “It’s grainy, but anyone who knows them will recognize their features.”

She frowned. “But it could be contended—” she mused, tapping her lip. “Do you know who took the picture? And, more importantly, would they be willing to testify under oath?”

He felt guilty involving Marcia, who had been there for him as a friend, confidant, and informant. “I hate to ask that of her. It would probably get her into trouble.”

“Not likely,” she replied quickly. Finally, she stood up, took his empty cup to the service, and sat before him on the edge of her desk. “The fact that she didn’t file for divorce on grounds of abandonment is very telling. But, if what you just stated is true, I can understand why she left the state.” She dropped the petition back on the desk. “The speediest—and most convenient option would be to sign it and walk away. That it’s derogatory is irrelevant because nobody will ever see it.”

He sensed her hesitation and waited for the caveat.

“This proof you mentioned,” she continued, “Can you provide it to me? Not just the fancy binder—but everything you and your PI uncovered. I want to review every scrap, including your notes and raw material.”

Her request caught him off guard, but he nodded. “It’s all in storage, up in Hood River.”

“How soon can you get it to me?”

“Would it be okay if I detach my trailer out there?” he gestured toward the street beside her office.

She nodded.

“I can have it here in an hour then,” he replied. “But ... why?”

She leaned forward. “Call it morbid curiosity or intuition,” she stated cautiously. “But ... Vince, if what you told me is true, something feels off, and I think you got a raw deal. I need to review everything before I can form an opinion.”

“I don’t get it,” he balked, “This sounds more in-depth than a consultation, and I—I really can’t afford a lawyer.” He swallowed uncomfortably.

She stood up and looked down at him with intent eyes. “Vincent, are you being honest with me?”

“What?” he stammered, “Yes!”

“And what you’re bringing me will confirm everything you told me?”

He grimaced in annoyance. “Yes.”

“Are you leaving anything out?”

Her intense tone and gaze made him squirm. He glanced away and cleared his throat. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Right there,” she blurted. “You’re not telling me everything!” Her harsh tone pissed him off.

“Yes, I am!” he snapped. “Hell, you know more about my fucking relationship and marriage than anyone else! I told you everything.” He regretted his outburst as she leaned back and returned to her seat.

She observed him quietly with her fingers steepled before her. Then she sighed, “Vince, I may not look it, but I’ve been practicing criminal law for over a decade. I have a knack for reading people and knowing when they’re honest or holding back.” Her tone was unsettling, “I can tell you are doing both.”

“Look,” he said, nudging Bandi out of his lap. “I don’t know how to convince you I ain’t bullshitting you. I don’t even know that it fucking matters!”

“I don’t either!” she interrupted. “But if I’m representing you, I need a crystal-clear picture of who you are—”

“I can’t afford you,” he cut her off angrily, instantly regretting his tone. He flinched and blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to come off as an asshole.” He reached for the forms on her desk. “Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it.”

He was surprised when her hand appeared and held the papers down. Glancing back at her, he found her gazing neutrally.

“May I finish?”

He straightened, feeling ashamed for his outburst, and shrugged.

“I’ll take your case pro bono,” she said. “Do you know what that means?”

He nodded. “Yeah, tit for tat,” he replied. “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. Something like that?”

“Elegant, but ... no,” she smiled, lifting his spirits. “That is quid pro quo. Pro bono means I will represent you for free—” Her eyes hardened, “But only if I feel we have a solid case.”

“I still don’t understand—why don’t you think I’m being straight with you?”

“Then why are you so angry and defensive?”

“I’m not angry!” he insisted, trying to control his tone. “It’s just ... you’re calling me a liar, and I don’t know how—”

“I never said you were lying,” she replied softly. “I said you weren’t telling me everything. And I stand by that.”

He clenched his jaw in frustration. “I’ve told you everything about my relationship with that vile little cunt. There’s nothing else to say—” He paused when she arched an eyebrow.

“Why are you angry that she called you incompetent?”

He felt cold rage and clenched his teeth, “Because she’s a spiteful bitch, and wants to fuck with me!” he growled.

After a moment, he glanced back at the attorney and found her studying him with calculating and expectant eyes. He threw his hands up, “Look! I’ve got fucking baggage, okay?” He stepped behind his chair and gripped the back. “I got some dark shit in my past, and she knows that! Fuck, she was there!” He stopped, and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to talk about it, alright?”

She watched him struggle with his emotions. “Maybe you should talk to a therapist.”

He snorted, “If I could afford that, I could afford you!” He stepped into the hall and looked back. “If it’s so goddamned important, just Google my name. You’ll find everything you want to know online.”

An hour later, he returned to the Law Office to find Mrs. Argyle had stepped out. He set the file box on the Paralegal’s desk. Her name placard suggested her full name was Melany Stevens.

“I’m sorry you missed her,” the older woman replied. “She is fetching her daughter from daycare. She said she would return once she took her home to her husband and had a quick bite. You can wait for her if you like.”

He had plenty of time to contemplate their earlier discussion during the hour-long drive. He felt like an ass for his behavior and was relieved to find her absent. “Thanks, but I need to hook up the trailer and head back to the cabin.”

“How can we reach you if she has any questions?”

He wrote his cell number down, explaining his lack of reception, but promised to return to town in a day or so. As he turned to leave, he hesitated. “Um, what should I do about the annulment paperwork?”

“Don’t worry,” she smiled. “Terri will handle it and file for a continuance if needed.” She stood up and came around the desk. “I know this is new for you, but everything will be okay.” She placed a hand on his arm. “My niece is the best! And we come from a family of attorneys, so I’m not just blowing smoke. You got a real tiger in your corner when she took your case.”

“She hasn’t agreed to take the case yet,” he stammered.

She smiled and patted his arm. “Go home and relax, dear. Check in when you’re back in town.”

Early and mid-summer in Oregon brought unpredictable weather. Eager to board up the roof, he divided his time between rain bursts—wrapping the exterior in Tyvek and placing planks over the trusses. He could have finished both projects in a day with agreeable weather. Over the week, it had rained enough to turn the clearing into a muddy bog. He took note of where the water pooled for later grading and drainage.

The hot summer sun eventually chased the dark clouds away, and steam filled the clearing as the moisture was baked from the cabin and ground. He needed a dozen rolls of roofing paper for the next stage and promised to help Carl process a timber delivery over the weekend. As payment, he would get all the debarked off-cuts for exterior siding. This involved taking the trailer to the sawmill and leaving it for a few days while he loaded the rough-cut rounded slabs during breaks.

When he called the Argyle Law firm two days later, he had to leave a message. Melany returned his call later that morning but didn’t get it until lunch.

“Can you stop by the office today?” the paralegal asked.

Vince scratched his thick beard, feeling like Grizzly Adams. He had been sweating heavily all morning. “I think we’ll be done by three, then I need to swing by Home Depot for some windows,” he said. “I can be there around four-thirty or five—”

“Great,” she said, “Terri is eager to speak with you.”

‘Okay—’

“Who was this attorney who advised you while you were working with—” Theresa thumbed through a thick legal notepad, “—Private Investigator, Gary Slocomb?”

Vince had pulled a ball cap over his thick, wild hair to try and contain it before stepping into the law office. He sat in the lobby while the two women conferred with him over Melany’s desk. Bandi had disappeared around the piece of furniture and was apparently receiving love from the older woman as she bent down before her computer.

“Umm, I think his name was Jeeter,” he replied, adjusting his cap awkwardly. “Brian Jeeter.”

The younger redhead leaned over her aunt’s shoulder and began typing on her computer. She pursed her lips. “I see,” she murmured. “He is a corporate attorney out of Portland specializing in copyright law—” She snorted dismissively and straightened. “Come on back, Vincent. We have a few things to discuss.”

He felt like a homeless person as he towered over the well-dressed woman, leading him into her inner sanctum.

“Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“When you were surveilling your wife and collecting evidence of her infidelity, why didn’t you go after the hospital where she worked?” she asked as she set a steaming mug before him on her desk.

He tried to recall the conversations with the PI. “Erm, the subject never really came up,” he replied hesitantly. “And his lawyer friend thought it was all conjecture or something.”

She snorted disdainfully, “You should have had proper legal representation from the start,” she grumbled. “From an attorney well-versed in family law, not ... plagiarism disputes.” She took her seat with a cup in her hand and sighed. “Water under the bridge,” she remarked. “And nothing we can’t work around.”

“What do you mean?”

“When we last met, I counseled you on simply signing the annulment petition and moving on,” she said, taking a sip. “But after reviewing what you gave me, we should discuss other options.”

He sat back and glanced around, finding Bandi curled up by the door, appearing to be asleep with her nose buried under her tail but watching him through hooded eyes. “I’m listening.”

“Consider everything I’m about to discuss before deciding, but you might want to consider filing for divorce instead.”