Chapter 13 - THE DIVORCE DAVID AND I ALMOST DIDN’T HAVE
David and I divorced.
That surprised our families.
The Evelyn crisis brought us closer as parents.
Not as spouses.
For months, people assumed shared anger would reconcile us.
It did not.
What broke our marriage existed before the pit.
Work.
Communication.
Resentment.
David using his mother as an emotional dumping ground instead of talking to me.
Me making major career decisions internally before discussing them properly with him.
Years of little injuries.
The divorce became final eighteen months after our separation began.
No war.
Maya remained in the same preschool and later elementary school.
Our parenting schedule became stable.
Neither parent became “visitor.”
David moved into a townhouse seven minutes away.
I stayed in the suburban house temporarily, then sold it two years later when the maintenance stopped making sense.
Maya helped choose my next place.
One condition:
“No holes.”
I laughed.
“Reasonable.”
David eventually dated again.
Not Lauren.
Someone new.
He waited nearly a year before introductions.
Then asked me directly:
“Are you comfortable with Maya meeting her?”
I appreciated the question.
But corrected him.
“You don't need my permission to date.”
“I know.”
“What I need is information if she becomes part of Maya’s household.”
“Agreed.”
We had finally learned precision.
May you like
It was less romantic than assumptions.
Much safer.
