When Linda visited her lawyer, a young lady that came highly recommended, she told her story from beginning to end leaving nothing out. Her lawyer said it was quite an unusual tale but most of it didn’t matter since this was a no-fault state. She asked Linda what she wanted and Linda immediately said a reconciliation with her husband. Linda told her lawyer she had not talked to her husband over two weeks, since the evening he packed his bags and left. She said she would set up a meeting with her husband and his lawyer and call her when it was scheduled. She asked Linda to return to her office on Monday and they would go over some options and discuss what her husbands lawyer said.
Linda returned to her attorney’s office on Monday and was told a meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 at her husband’s lawyer’s office. She asked Linda to be at her office no later than 12:30 on Wednesday and then began going over her options. Since her husband made quite a bit more than she did she thought they should ask for a 70/30 split although she didn’t think he would agree to it they could negotiate from there. She said she also thought she should ask for $5000 a month in alimony. Again, probably wouldn’t agree but a starting point. Linda then asked about a reconciliation. Her attorney said her husband had refused outright. She said she could ask the court for joint counseling sessions in hopes of reconciliation if she wanted to try it and Linda said yes.
Linda and her attorney arrived promptly at Jim’s attorney’s office and was shown to a conference room where Jim and his attorney were already seated. Jim turned away from Linda when she entered the room and refused to acknowledge her. Linda’s attorney began by saying she and her client had reviewed the divorce document and found it totally inadequate. They counter proposed a 70/30 split with a $5000 a month alimony. His attorney said that was totally unacceptable and the original proposal was their best offer. Linda’s attorney then said she was prepared to petition the court for a series of joint counseling sessions to try and repair this marriage, to be completed before the divorce moved forward. Jim’s attorney looked at Jim and Jim shook his head no. Jim’s attorney responded his client saw no need to further delay this process and would refuse any counseling. Linda’s attorney smiled and said “You know councilor if I petition the court, they most likely will agree to counseling and your client’s refusal will weigh heavily on the divorce proceedings.” Jim’s attorney turned to Jim and said “We discussed this Jim. You need to tell me want you want to do now.”
Jim turned and looked at Linda. She could see pain and sadness in his eyes. He began ” Linda I’m not totally blaming you for this, there is enough blame to go around for all of us. Any one of us could have stopped this any number of times but in our ignorance and selfishness we thought we could make it work and no one would get hurt. We were wrong. That day when Tray stormed into our house and all the yelling and accusations were flying back and forth, I realized we had really screwed everything up. I lost my wife whom I have loved for many years, I lost my best friend whom I have loved since we were children and most of all I hurt both of them deeply. Yes, I’m feeling as much pain as you are, maybe more, because I believe I should have never agreed to any of this to begin with and should have stopped it on several occasions, but I didn’t. There has been too many lies, cheating, and betrayal to put the pieces back together. The most any of us can hope for is to move on and hopefully build a new life and never repeat these mistakes again. Linda, I don’t hate you but I don’t think I have enough love for you left in me to try and re-build our marriage, let alone any trust. Let’s get this divorce over with and quit hurting each other and move on.”
Linda was sobbing uncontrollably but knew in her heart Jim was right. I’m not sure when we crossed some line but somewhere our “arrangement” had left all of us different people and our love and trust for each other a casualty along the way. I wished we had never started down this path, but we did and we can’t change what has happened. I was devastated but agreed to move forward.
We finally agreed on a 60/40 split of all assets and a $4500 alimony a month until I re-marry or reach a salary the court deems is equivalent to the alimony amount. Jim would pay the monthly mortgage for one year and we would then sell it and split any equity evenly. I agreed to forgo counseling and signed the divorce papers.
Albert stayed in touch with Linda and visited often and would take her to lunch and dinner. A couple of months after the divorce was final Albert came by one evening and took Linda to dinner. He finally got a small smile from her and she seemed to be slowly recovering. Albert said he was returning to England in six weeks. Linda looked shocked and tears started running down her cheeks. She asked “What will I do without you. You have been such a friend throughout all this and I will be lost without you.” Albert said “Well I have grown very fond of you and I think I have fallen in love with you. I know we don’t have enough time to really sort everything out as well as we should. I have requested a six-month extension to remain in America and have received preliminary approval although I will have to return to London for six weeks before I can return here. Will you wait for me and we can then begin to sort out our feelings with one another without all this other emotional mess going on around us?” Linda gave him a huge smile and hugged and kissed him.
Epilogue;
Tray transferred to another location and Jim and Linda never heard from him again.
Jim remained with his company and Linda heard through a mutual friend he was seeing someone and it appeared to be serious. Linda hoped he would find someone and be happy again.
Albert returned after the six weeks and he and Linda became engaged. They married and moved to London.