“No. We don’t.”
“Nonnegotiable.” He waved off her protest. “Montana is an equitable distribution state when it comes to divorce.”
“I’m not marrying you for your assets.” Eve pushed out a belabored breath. “You know me. I’m not a gold digger.” She didn’t even know if Hayden had gold to dig for.
“I have four brothers and my grandmother to watch out for,” Hayden countered in a hard voice. “I have to protect them, even if it’s only a six-month marriage.”
Now, it was Eve who felt stuck, dangling at the end of a rope.
“We need to pick a date,” Hayden said in a defeated voice.
“To get married.” Eve nodded, finally agreeing with him.
“To get divorced.” Hayden’s tone brooked no argument. “We’ll get married as soon as the prenup is signed. Then I’ll need you to care for Gran from dawn until dusk and—”
“Stop.” Eve gripped the table edge. “This freight train has missed a few stops. I’m not quitting my job.”
“Then the deal’s off.” He made as if to stand. “Unless you want me to pay you.”
“No! You’re not going to pay me.” On that, she was firm.
“I need help full-time.” Hayden turned away from the table. “This isn’t going to work.”
A bolt of panic sent Eve’s hand shooting out. She caught hold of his fingers and didn’t let go, anchoring him across from her. “I’m going to need this job in six months when we separate.”
“When we divorce. Separation implies the possibility of reconciliation.” Hayden tugged his hand free and sat back down. “And Doc said she’d be fine in three months or so. We don’t even need six months.”
Eve scoffed, finding her backbone. “In my experience as a nurse, it’s more like six months to normal. Sometimes longer.”
They stared at each other. Eve was determined not to cave in to his demands.
“Eve? You ordering lunch today?” Gilbert called, sticking his dark head out of the van’s order window.
“Name’s Irene, not Eve,” Hayden’s grandmother replied in a sassy voice. “You’re quesa…queso… This cheesy thing needs salt.”
“Sorry about that,” Eve said to the food truck owner, waving toward Irene. “No lunch today, Gilbert.” She’d lost her appetite.
“I’m having lunch,” Irene said. “I had lunch.”
Hayden muttered something Eve didn’t catch, shaking his head.
“I can give you half a day.” Eve leapt into the lull in negotiations, trying to find her footing. “But only if Laurie lets me drop down to mornings for a few months.”
Hayden’s lips formed a thin line.
“Mornings are the busiest time at Oak Hill,” Eve added weight to her argument. Mornings were also when Katie went to preschool. “My mom might be able to help watch Irene some mornings with enough notice. Or you can take Irene out to ride fence or whatever it is you do on a ranch.”
“That’s too dangerous, considering she could fall.” Hayden washed a hand over his face, washed his gaze over her. “Is there anything else you need?”
“A churro, please,” Irene said, rocking back and forth on the park bench. “Churro is a funny word, isn’t it? Whereas queso-dee…” She frowned.
“Quesadilla,” Eve said, giving Irene a reassuring smile. She took note of the worry lines around Hayden’s dark eyes. Eve lowered her voice, trying to reassure him. “For stroke victims, vocabulary can be challenging, the same as memories regarding people and events.”
Grunting, Hayden got up to order a churro for Irene.
Eve took time to steady her breathing and squelch the ever-rising feeling of panic. She should be calm. They were working things out. If only things didn’t feel so tenuous.
She didn’t notice Hayden had resumed his seat until he spoke. “What else, Evie?”