I blocked his number.
Then I blocked Sylvia’s because I could already imagine the lecture she’d want to deliver about proper wely behavior.
The next morning, I called Kenneth Price, an attorney whose name I’d gotten from a colleague who’d gone through a difficult divorce. His receptionist scheduled me for Monday morning, the earliest available appointment.
Friday passed in a blur of supportive text messages from friends I’d been neglecting and phone calls with my parents, who were shocked but ultimately fiercely supportive.
“That woman never deserved you as a daughter-in-law,” my mother Claudia said firmly, “and her son clearly takes after her.”
My father Raymond was quieter but equally resolute.
“Whatever you need, sweetheart. We’re here.”
On Saturday, Garrett showed up at Miranda’s house.
Quentyn answered the door and very calmly explained that I didn’t want to see him.
“She’s my wife,” Garrett’s voice carried through the closed door.
“Then maybe you should have treated her like one,” Quentyn replied before shutting the door in his face.
Miranda peeked through the curtains as Garrett stood on the porch for several minutes, weighing his options.
Eventually, he returned to his car and drove away.
“He looked confused,” Miranda reported. “Like he genuinely can’t understand why you’re upset.”
“He probably can’t,” I sighed. “In his mind, I’m the one being unreasonable.”
Monday morning arrived with unseasonably warm weather.
Phân cảnh 5: Legal proceedings
I dressed carefully for my attorney meeting, choosing a navy suit that made me feel competent and in control.
Kenneth Price turned out to be a silver-haired man in his 50s with kind eyes and a firm handshake.
“Tell me everything,” he said, pulling out a legal pad.
I did.
He listened without interrupting, occasionally making notes. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair.
“Oregon is a no fault divorce state, which works in your favor. We don’t need to prove adultery or cruelty, just that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Based on what you’ve told me and the fact that you kept your finances somewhat separate, this should be relatively straightforward.”
“I want it done quickly.”
“I can file the petition this week. Since you don’t have children and you’ve already physically separated, we can move forward rapidly. The question is, what do you want from this?”
I thought about the house, the shared accounts, the life we’d built.
“I want what’s mine. I don’t want his money or his mother’s family heirlooms or anything that doesn’t belong to me, but I want my dignity acknowledged.”
Kenneth smiled.
“I think we can arrange that.”
The divorce petition was filed on Wednesday.
Garrett was served papers at his office on Thursday. He called from a number I didn’t recognize, and foolishly I answered.
“You filed for divorce?” His voice was incredulous.
“Over Thanksgiving dinner,” I countered calmly. “Over 3 years of being treated like a placeholder. Thanksgiving was just when I finally saw it clearly.”
“Vivien, this is crazy. We can work this out. Maybe couple’s therapy.”
“I don’t want to work it out. I want to be legally separated from someone who told me to leave rather than defend me to his mother.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did. You meant exactly what you said, and I’m taking you up on it.”
I hung up before he could respond and immediately blocked the new number.
Friday afternoon brought an unexpected visitor to Miranda’s house.
I was working remotely from her dining room table when the doorbell rang. Miranda had taken Penelope to soccer practice, leaving me alone.
Through the window, I could see Sylvia standing on the porch, her expensive coat buttoned against the December cold, her expression set in determined lines.
My first instinct was to ignore her, but something made me open the door.
“We need to talk,” she announced, rushing past me into the hallway without waiting for an invitation.
“I don’t recall inviting you in.”
She turned to face me, her eyes cold.
“You’ve made quite a mess of things, haven’t you? Filing for divorce like some impulsive child.”
“I’m not discussing this with you.”