Fae Second Chance

Chapter 25 - Moving On

Chapter 25

The next few weeks go by in a flash.  I meet with a divorce attorney and start the process of dissolving my marriage.   Jordan goes with me and holds my hand through the awkward encounter.  The lawyer is an older man with a nice suit and lovely decorated office.  You can tell his wife probably did most of the decorating.  He has pictures of what appears to be his grandkids all over the walls with his diploma and award.

We are sitting in two soft leather chairs in front of his massive desk.  After an hour of filling in forms and him asking questions, we are down to the final paperwork.  All he needs to do it verify everything is filled in right and I sign.  The lawyer looks over the documents one more time and taps them together and puts them in a folder in front of him.

“Well, everything looks in order.  You are claiming infidelity as the reason for the divorce.  Do you have any proof?”

Jordon jumps and let’s go of my hand, “Yes she does.  Sorry I forgot to give you these at the start.”

She hands over the photos from the P.I.  I am glad she remembered them.

The lawyer flips through the photos and asks, “Where did you get these?”

I clear my throat, “I hired a P.I. to find out if my husband was cheating.”

“Is he a licensed P.I.?  It will help, especially if he has an official report we can include.”

“I believe he is licensed.  He did not give me a report.  Just the pictures.”

“If you give me his contact information, I will reach out to him and get what I need.”

I search my phone for his number and once I have it, I hand my phone over to the lawyer.

“I know Mr. Johnson.  Good people.  I shouldn’t have any problem getting an official report from him.  With that information I expect the judge to not have any problems expediting the separation agreement.  I will push to wave to 12-month separation requirement due to the cheating.  Is there any martial property you want?  That is usually what takes the longest, dividing up the assets.”

“I only want what is mine.  Any joint property he can keep.  We don’t own a house and our car is a clunker.  We really do not have any big-ticket items.”

The lawyer nods and jots the information down.  “Well, I have everything I need.  I suggest if you have any joint bank accounts you document all that is currently in them today.  Print off bank statement, credit card information all that.  Send me copies of any financial information and then the fights start. I’ll be straight with you.  This is not going to be easy or quick.  Be prepared for the long haul.”

I stand with Jordan.  I reach my hand across the desk and grasp his, “I understand.  Thank You.”

“Call me if you need anything.  I am here to assist you.”

Jordan and I thank him again and leave his office.  As we exit the building Jordan links her arm with mine, “How about a drink?  I could use a drink.”

I smile and her, “Yeah, that’s sounds perfect.”

Christmas comes soon enough.  At first, I felt like I needed to find someplace else to stay during the holidays.  I didn’t want to intrude on Jordans family, but every time I brought it up Jordan, she would tell me to forget about it that I was more than welcome.  Finally, I agreed and spent it at Jordan’s. 

I called my parents early Christmas morning and the sounds of Jordan’s children excitedly tearing through the presents brought tears to my eyes.  I always wanted a big family.  I wanted the holiday magic of watching my kids open their presents and decorating the tree.   My mother could hear the sadness in my voice and asked me what was wrong.  I told her it was nothing.  She then complained that it better not be John.  I chuckled, no mom.  Just wishing you were here.  My mother huffed and we talked about happier things.

After the holidays I was determined to find a place of my own.  Jordan reluctantly agreed and went with me to look at different apartments.  Jordan would complain about this one or that.  This apartment was too far from any public transit.  This one was more money than it was worth.  Her main complaint was that I needed a place with a doorman, in case John reappeared.  I couldn’t disagree with her.  It had been strangely quiet.  The lawyer told me he had gotten his own lawyer and wanted to contest the divorce.  He claimed he was not cheating and it was a misunderstanding.  My lawyer told me not worry the proof the P.I. gave me was more than enough to convince a judge that he was lying. 

A couple of weeks later I found the perfect place.  It was located in the magic side of town.  It was a couple blocks from a subway stop and had a huge bear of a man, Dale, who worked the door during the day.  There was a different security guy at night and everything was key card access to get in.  I laughed as Jordan tried and fail to come up with a reason this place was unacceptable.

I moved in a week later.  I looked around my new very empty apartment.  I didn’t have any furniture.  I didn’t even have any in storage in DC.  I left it all.  I chuckle to myself; I didn’t even have any pots or pans to cook with.  Jordan surveyed the blank walls and lack of furniture as well. 

“We need find some curtains at least.”

I laughed, “Just curtains?”

“Well, a bed might be helpful as well.” Jordan strolled through the apartment making a mental checklist of all the things I would need.  “We have some old plates and kitchen stuff in storage you could have.  I also have a couple of chairs and a folding table we are not using.  I will also keep an eye for the yard sales around my neighborhood.  Spring’s coming and there is always a housewife or two who want to redecorate and will sell perfectly good furniture for a really good price.”

I nodded, but I would need some things sooner than later.  An air mattress will only work for so long and Jordan was right, I didn’t need my neighbors to have an open view of my bedroom.

“Want to go with me to the discount store and get some curtains and maybe a mattress.”

“Sure, we will call this college sheik.” She waves her hands in front of her like she is displaying a work of art.

I laughed at Jordan comment.  This place may be emptier than my actual college apartment was.

Dale, the front door man, was a really sweet and talkative guy.  Married with 2 small daughters.  He was a bar bouncer for years but when his wife got pregnant, he needed a steadier income and a safer job.  He found this and worked a side job at night occasionally working security for warehouses.  Jordan grilled the poor man the first day about their safety protocols and explained to him that my asshat (and yes, she used the word asshat) of an ex-husband shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near me.  Dale promised to look after me like I was his own sister and mollified Jordan.

There were also three younger security guys that filled in for Dale and the night guy and also provided backup and covered the swing shifts so there was always 2 men on at any time. Every morning Dale would call one of the younger guys to walk me to the subway station.  I would tell him that was not necessary, but he would tell me he is more afraid of Jordan than me and I would agree to keep the peace.  Coming home he would pout because I didn’t call him to get someone to walk me home.  It became a weird kind of game. 

True to her word, Jordan showed up a month or so later with a truck full of furniture.  She told me her neighbor had decided on a woodland scene and this boring brown couch wouldn’t work with it.  She gotten everything for a song.  The couch was comfy and in really good shape.  She even got a small table and chairs as well as a bedframe that would fit my mattress.  Everything was used, but nice.  I couldn’t be happier.  I tried to pay her back, but she waved me off and told me to babysit her hellions for her once in a while and we could call it even.

Later that day I sat on my kitchen counter looking over my finally furnished living room.  For the first time in my life, I had a place of my own, a job I loved, and money of my own I didn’t have to justify spending.  I was independent and felt freer than I have in years.  I smiled; I was home.