Chapter 25 - The decree
The divorce decree entered two weeks later.
Marriage dissolved.
Property settlement incorporated.
Parenting order incorporated.
No new numbers.
No courtroom surprise.
No one fainted.
Lucas sat at one table.
I sat at another.
Mom waited outside because I asked her to.
Everett did not come.
That mattered.
The man whose knock had once turned Lucas pale had nothing to do with dissolving our marriage.
He had done his job at the trust/company.
Family court did its job.
Corporate committee did its job.
My lawyer did hers.
I had to do mine.
Judge confirmed:
“Did you sign settlement voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone threaten you into signing?”
“No.”
“Do you understand terms?”
“Yes.”
I did.
That was the difference.
Then Lucas.
Same questions.
Yes.
Then decree.
Done.
Outside, Lucas caught up to me near elevators.
“Emily.”
I stopped.
We had no no-contact order.
“What?”
He looked tired.
Not angry.
“I’m sorry about Saturday.”
Months earlier I would have needed details.
Now I waited.
He said:
“Throwing your things out. The papers. Putting Noah in the agreement the way I did.”
Specific enough.
Then:
“I really did believe the Mercer debt should be shared.”
“I know.”
“I still think the marriage benefited.”
“I know.”
“But you didn’t know.”
There.
“No.”
He nodded.
Then:
“I should have told you about the loan when I took it.”
“Yes.”
“And I should have gotten the approval.”
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly.
“Anything else?”
“A lot.”
He almost laughed.
Then he said:
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
Good.
“I just don’t want Noah growing up thinking I got fired because your mom called Everett.”
I looked at him.
“Then keep telling him the truth.”
He nodded.
Elevator opened.
We went different directions.
May you like
No hug.
No reconciliation.
