Chapter 14 - THE LIFE AFTER OLIVER
The divorce was finalized the following autumn.
Oliver's financial misconduct remained the subject of separate legal proceedings.
Through negotiated settlements and recovery actions, the foundation began reclaiming funds.
Camille cooperated with investigators and faced professional and legal consequences for her participation.
Loretta did not celebrate their suffering.
She had spent too long measuring her life against other people's choices.
Instead, she concentrated on rebuilding the foundation.
She established a new fellowship for young artists from underserved Chicago neighborhoods.
She expanded the community studio program.
She recruited younger trustees with expertise in nonprofit governance.
And she began spending more time outside the penthouse.
At fifty-one, Loretta took a painting class.
She was terrible.
Her first landscape looked like a storm had collided with a grocery store.
Her instructor, a quiet architect named Benjamin Ellis, studied the canvas.
"Interesting use of color."
Loretta laughed.
"That's a very diplomatic way of saying it's awful."
Benjamin smiled.
"I was going to say enthusiastic."
They became friends.
Benjamin was divorced.
He had two adult daughters.
He enjoyed jazz, old buildings, and terrible jokes.
He knew Loretta's name.
But he seemed remarkably uninterested in her money.
When they went to dinner, he insisted on splitting the bill until she pointed out that she was perfectly capable of buying her own pasta.
He laughed.
"So am I."
"Then we're compatible."
Their relationship developed slowly.
There were no extravagant declarations.
No promises about forever.
Just long walks.
Coffee.
Conversations.
And the unfamiliar pleasure of being with someone who did not treat her life as an opportunity.
One evening, Benjamin noticed the emerald bracelet on her wrist.
"That's beautiful."
Loretta smiled.
"It was my mother's."
"She had wonderful taste."
"She did."
He looked at her.
"Tell me about her."
Loretta stared.
Oliver had rarely asked about Margaret unless the answer concerned the foundation.
Benjamin simply wanted to know the woman.
So Loretta told him.
About the florist's office.
The first scholarship.
The terrible singing.
The stubborn optimism.
And the way Margaret believed Chicago looked temporarily honest in the morning light.
Benjamin listened.
When she finished, he said:
"I think I would have liked her."
May you like
Loretta smiled.
"I think she would have liked you too."
