Chapter 8 - GRANT WITHOUT THE AUDIENCE
The divorce became final eighteen months after the pool incident.
I did not throw a party.
My mother did.
She invited four people.
Called it “dinner.”
There was champagne.
Suspicious.
Settlement:
I kept my full ownership of North Star subject to agreed marital valuation offset.
I received larger equity from sale of our house due in part to the unauthorized loan issue.
Grant retained his retirement accounts and separate assets.
Neither paid long-term support.
Clean enough.
Fair enough.
Done.
---
Months later, Grant requested one conversation.
Not required.
I almost declined.
Then agreed.
Public café.
Daytime.
He looked older.
Less polished.
He had completed his court-required program.
Moved into an apartment.
Stopped drinking for nine months.
I did not congratulate him.
Sobriety is good.
It is also his responsibility.
He said:
“I’m sorry.”
I waited.
“For the pool.”
Still waited.
“For laughing.”
Better.
“For letting my mother treat you like staff.”
Better.
“For trying to interfere with North Star.”
Better.
“For the loan.”
There.
He continued:
“I used to think because I made more money when we got married, everything important came from me.”
I looked at him.
“At first, you did make more.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“When your bakery started growing, I felt like I was losing something.”
“Why?”
He laughed bitterly.
“I don't know.”
“Yes, you do.”
He stared at his coffee.
“Because Mom always said a wife should need her husband.”
There it was.
“If you didn't need me financially, I didn't know what made me important.”
I felt sad.
Not enough to return.
Enough to understand.
“You could have tried being kind.”
He smiled painfully.
“I know.”
Then:
“I watched the video.”
“Which one?”
“The pool.”
I said nothing.
“I hated myself.”
“That feeling can be useful if you don't make it everyone else's responsibility.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Then he asked:
“Do you ever miss me?”
I answered honestly.
“Sometimes.”
He looked surprised.
“Missing someone doesn't mean they should come back.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
May you like
That was the last time we spoke for years.
---
