Chapter 15 - Claire And Ethan End Their Marriage
The divorce took eighteen months.
Claire kept the house as her separate titled property, subject to the
final legal resolution of marital claims and documented contributions.
Other assets were divided through negotiation and applicable law.
Ethan did not leave with nothing.
Claire did not take everything.
The $2,500 envelope never became the settlement.
At the final mediation, Ethan looked at her.
“I thought you needed me financially.”
Claire almost laughed.
“I know.”
“I think I needed to believe that.”
“Why?”
“Because you were better at being stable than I was.”
It was the most honest thing he had said about their marriage.
Claire signed the final documents.
Ethan did too.
Before leaving, he said:
“I’m sorry I let you stand in the rain.”
Claire remembered the locked door.
Vanessa in the doorway.
Margaret smiling.
The envelope.
“You didn’t let me,” Claire said.
“You put me there.”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes.”
May you like
That distinction mattered.
Then they walked away from each other.
