Chapter 7
That changed me.
Not because of the amount.
Because of the planning.
Affairs can happen impulsively.
Apartment deposits do not.
Jason had been constructing his exit while still asking me what I wanted for our anniversary.
One night, he came home carrying flowers.
Yellow roses.
My favorite.
“For what?”
“Do I need a reason?”
Apparently he did.
He kissed me.
I almost turned away.
Instead I let him.
That was one of the hardest things I did.
Not because I wanted his affection.
Because I wanted to know how effortlessly he could perform normal.
Very effortlessly, it turned out.
The following week, Jason became unusually gentle.
He offered to cook.
Asked about my clients.
Suggested we should take a weekend trip to Naples.
I later realized he was trying to reduce his guilt before leaving.
People sometimes become kindest immediately before they hurt you.
That is one of betrayal’s cruelest disguises.
Three days before Jason handed me the divorce papers, Kayla posted a photograph online.
I did not follow her.
Andrea sent it to me.
Kayla and Noah at Clearwater Beach.
No Jason.
The caption read:
BIG CHANGES COMING FOR OUR LITTLE TEAM.
I stared at the boy.
Noah.
None of this was his fault.
I reminded myself of that repeatedly.
Children are often dragged into adult lies long before they understand what loyalty even means.
In the photo, Noah was holding a red plastic shovel.
Missing tooth.
Sunburn on his nose.
He looked happy.
I wondered what Kayla had told him about Jason.
Uncle Jason?
Mommy’s friend?
New Dad?
That last thought made me sick.
Then came Friday.
Jason’s suitcases.
Kitchen table.
Divorce papers.
I love her so much.
I just want to be happy.
Then go be happy.
He thought I had surrendered.
What I had actually done was make sure his paperwork matched the legal review Lena had already performed.
Jason believed he was presenting me with the first draft.
He did not know I had received a copy electronically two days earlier through his attorney’s office because Lena had already contacted them.
He had been too distracted to notice the paperwork contained several revisions in my favor.
The house would be sold unless one of us bought the other out.
Retirement divided according to Florida law and our negotiated terms.
Joint savings frozen pending accounting.
Any disputed marital expenditures subject to review.
Jason signed without reading carefully.