Chapter 16 - The Divorce Became Final
Our divorce became final when I was twenty-four weeks pregnant.
No dramatic courtroom.
No last-minute reconciliation.
Judge reviewed agreement.
Property.
Company shares.
Support.
Future child provisions subject to family court jurisdiction and parenting plan after birth.
Ethan did not challenge my Mercer Trust interests.
He withdrew claim to certain appreciation after updated valuation and settlement.
I made one concession on jointly acquired investment property because fair.
No revenge.
No alimony either direction.
We both had substantial income/resources.
Parenting plan would begin after birth.
I restored legal name:
Anna Mercer.
The judge asked:
“Ms. Mercer, is dissolution still your voluntary request?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Bennett?”
“Yes.”
Ethan’s voice cracked.
Outside courthouse he said:
“I’m sorry.”
“For what specifically?”
He had learned this was my standard.
“For letting my mother become third person in our marriage.”
“Yes.”
“For believing things because they matched my insecurity.”
“Yes.”
“For filing before I asked you directly whether any of it was true.”
“Yes.”
“For not protecting you at pool before she touched you.”
“You moved.”
“Too late.”
“Yes.”
He looked at my belly.
“And for making you go through this pregnancy while divorcing.”
“That one belongs to both of us.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Do you think there is any future for us?”
“As parents.”
His face fell.
“Only?”
“I don’t know future. I know marriage is over.”
May you like
He accepted.
That was perhaps the first gift he gave me without asking what it might buy.
