Chapter 14 - THE LAST THING ETHAN ASKED HER TO PAY FOR
Ethan made his first repayment six months after mediation.
$7,500.
Then another.
Then another.
No notes.
Good.
Claire wanted transactions from him to become boring.
Almost a year after the wedding, he requested a meeting.
Rachel advised against it unless she attended.
Claire agreed.
They met in Rachel’s office.
Ethan carried a folder.
“I’m not asking for money.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Excellent opening.”
He deserved that one.
Ethan sat.
“I got an offer to settle the remaining CB tax issue.”
“That sounds like something for your accountant.”
“I know.”
He looked down.
“I needed your signature confirming you have no ownership.”
Claire’s name still appeared in two vendor records because of Ethan’s false representations.
The document was legitimate.
Rachel reviewed it.
Claire signed.
Then Ethan stayed seated.
“What?”
He looked at her.
“Do you know what the worst part was?”
Claire waited.
“When the cards started declining, I was still angry at you.”
“I noticed.”
“I genuinely thought you were doing something cruel.”
“By stopping you spending my money.”
“Yes.”
He gave a humorless laugh.
“I know how that sounds.”
“It sounds like you.”
He nodded.
Then:
“I thought because I was going to repay you, the permission was just paperwork.”
Claire looked at him.
That was closer.
He continued.
“I think I treated relationships the same way.”
“How?”
“If I knew I loved someone, I thought the details could be fixed later.”
Claire thought about Vanessa.
The overlapping beginning.
The hidden debts.
The refinance.
The wedding.
“And now?”
“I think the details are the relationship.”
Claire did not congratulate him.
Good insights did not erase consequences.
Ethan asked:
“Do you ever talk to Vanessa?”
“Sometimes.”
That was true.
A birthday text.
An occasional coffee.
Nothing close.
Ethan looked surprised.
“She hates me.”
“She has reasons.”
“So do you.”
“Yes.”
“Do you?”
Claire understood.
Hate.
“No.”
His face changed.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to spend that much energy on you.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“Fair.”
He stood.
Then turned back.
“I really did love her.”
Claire answered:
“I know.”
“And you.”
“I know.”
“Does that make me worse?”
Claire considered.
“No.”
He waited.
“It makes love less impressive by itself.”
That landed.
Ethan nodded once.
Then left.
Rachel looked at Claire.
“You okay?”
Claire stared at the closed door.
“Yes.”
Not victorious.
May you like
Not devastated.
Finished enough.
