Camila’s smile wavers. “Excuse me?”
“Actually, I take that back. Hess, I appreciated that you at least gave a thoughtful response, but it’s clear that neither one of you knows enough about the other to show me you’re really putting in the effort to have a real marriage. There needs tobe more conversations that go beyond surface-level stuff.” Abby raises her brows at both of us. “Now, if you want me to report back to the judge that you’re really trying to make this marriage more than just an inheritance grab, you’re going to have to start by talking and getting to know the other person on a deeper level that’s real. Okay?”
“Okay.” We nod together.
“Each month when we meet, we’ll see how well you’ve gotten to know each other. Are we clear?”
“Yes,” we both mumble in disgrace.
“Great.” She leans forward. “Let’s get started with a few typical getting-to-know-you questions.”
“Now?” Camila asks.
“Yes, we’re going to spend the rest of the session getting to know one another better. Let’s start with an easy question. Do you play any sports or instruments?”
Camila looks at me like this is the worst moment of her life. I smile big, shifting my eyes back to Abby.
“I like football. I played in high school, but now I’m just a fan of ASU.”
“Camila?” Abby asks.
“When I was little, I played soccer.”
“Good.” Abby nods. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
We spend the rest of the session talking about everything and nothing, and for the first time since I’ve known Camila, I finally feel like I’m getting a quick peek behind the curtains.
Camila
“You know,I don’t think I particularly like our marriage counselor,” I say an hour later at the Waffle House as I sip my Diet Coke through a straw.
Hess doesn’t even look up. His eyes stay focused on the waffle in front of him. “That’s because she saw through your bull crap.”
“No, it’s because you made me look bad. You’re like the marriage counselor’s pet.”
He holds his fork in front of my face before eating his bite. “Don’t hate because I did better than you at answering questions.”
“You only did better because you’re an open book. Some of us like our privacy. And by the way, Idolike waffles. So you actually didn’t answer your questions as well as you thought.” For emphasis, I pick up my fork, slice off a piece of his waffle, and shove it in my mouth. It’s actually not that bad.
“What about you? ‘He owns horses and knows how to use them.’ You might as well have just said, ‘I know nothing about this man.’” He points his fork at me again. “And you broke the laundry circle of trust by talking about my boys and the support they need.”
“Fine. I won’t mention that again.” I lean forward, energized with a new plan. “At least we know the assignment now. Abby said we have to come back next month with even more information about each other. All we have to do to complete this marriage is get to know each other a little bit. That’s easy. Tell me something about yourself that we didn’t talk about during the session today.”
His gaze flattens as he deadpans, “I like the color blue.”
“More than that.” I throw my spoon at him, but he dodges it.
“Hey, it’s not that easy to come up with something on the spot. I need an Abby getting-to-know-you question.”
“Okay, fine, I’ll ask a probing question.” I drum my fingers on the table as I think. “What is your business that’s turned you into a rich cowboy?”
“A rich cowboy?” He looks around the restaurant at no one in particular as if to say,Can you believe her right now?
“Your house and property cost more than my entire inheritance doubled.”
His shoulders lift. “I invented the Step and Spray.”
I roll my hand, signaling for more details.
