Chapter 17 - The House
The house was mine before marriage.
But Jocelyn had paid toward renovations from marital income.
She had contributed furniture.
Labor.
Household management.
Divorce would calculate reimbursements and equitable claims.
I did not declare:
She gets nothing.
That would be fantasy.
We negotiated through attorneys.
She received:
Her share of marital savings.
Retirement equalization.
Reimbursement/credit for certain house improvements.
Her car.
Personal property.
No alimony due her income as a marketing director and marriage length, subject to state law and settlement.
The house remained mine after settlement.
Good.
Emmett’s bedroom remained his.
Cecily moved back to her repaired condo.
She asked to retrieve her belongings.
Scheduled.
No confrontation.
Before leaving, she asked through counsel if she could write Emmett.
Dr. Lowe said:
“Not yet.”
Cecily accepted.
That mattered.
She had participated by convenience, not deception.
Her relationship could perhaps recover sooner than Jocelyn’s.
But not immediately.
Then we repainted Emmett’s room.
Not because Jocelyn had ruined it.
Because he asked.
Dark-blue ceiling.
Airplane curtains.
A wall map.
His bed moved away from window.
He chose.
Then:
“Can lock?”
“Your door?”
“Yes.”
I installed a privacy lock that could open from inside and emergency-release from hall.
No external key.
He practiced.
Lock.
Unlock.
Open.
Again.
He smiled.
May you like
Control over a door.
Something adults take for granted.
