Page 26 of That: Taylor & Brooks

A text from Brooks lit up her screen—and without meaning to, she smiled.

Brooks:Chin up, Tay!

The two of them had been texting and talking nonstop lately. Brooks was funnier than expected—a smooth operator who knew exactly what to say to make her laugh. He'd developed a sixth sense about her needs since that first night, but what she appreciated most was his patience.

Part of her wished he was here, though she needed to do this herself. She'd been relying on him too much already, and he still had to install her alarm system.

She took a deep breath, slipped off her weddingring, and placed it gently in the center console. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed her paperwork and stepped out of the car. She took the stone steps one by one until she reached the top. The entire time she reminded herself that this discomfort she felt was temporary. Ending anything was hard, she would allow herself to have her moment.

Inside, the courthouse the weight of what she was about to do pressed against her chest, but she kept moving step by step, until she was standing in front of the clerk’s desk.

“Is that everything?” The clerk asked.

“Yes,” she said finally. “That’s everything.”

“Notarized?”

“Yes maam, I followed the steps to a T.”

A coworker of hers told her how to file for divorce without it costing an arm and a leg. They didn’t have any kids, and she’d never put his name on anything. He was too unreliable and unpredictable.

“Ok, Good. I don’t want this delayed. If he ain’t a son of a bitch and doesn’t fight. You’ll be divorced in no time. You’ll get your final decree in the mail.”

“Thank you.”

Taylor handed over her documents, paid her filing fee, and signed to begin the process she hoped went smoothly.

Walking out, she felt lighter despite the heaviness of the moment. She had girls’ night later, more masks to wear, more excuses to make. Soon, she wouldn’t have to. And she couldn’t wait for that. But the hardest performance was still ahead-her parents. She’d promised to stop by and she couldn’t put it off any longer.

When she made it back to her car, Brooks was the first person she wanted to tell, so she did.

Taylor:Brooksie, I did it.

Brooks:Proud of you, T. Let me see you.

She smiled, letting the weight of those words settle in and sent him a selfie.

Brooks:Nah, come to the shop.

Taylor:Work calls. My pic ain’t enough?

Brooks: Nope, not even close. Don’t let them spoiled brats at work stress you today. Talk to you later.

It wasn’t just Brooks who was proud of her. She was proud of herself too. The feeling carried her through the drive to her parents’ house. The closer she got, the more her leg bounced.

The street leading to her childhood home stretched longer than she remembered, giving her too much time to contemplate turning around.

She was going to wait a while before she told them. Not because she was ashamed, but because she already knew how this conversation would go. There wouldn’t be questions, just judgment. Disappointment in their eyes before she even got the words out. She could already hear her mother sighing. Her father rubbing his temples like she was seventeen all over again. When little did he know Taylor had been the only one paying bills in her household. She was no one’s responsibility. She’d been handling her business since day one.

They would tell her to pray on it. To try harder. To go to counseling. To fix it. They’d find some way to say it without even knowing. And right now, she was trying to wrap her own head around where her life was. She didn’t need them clouding her judgment.

She was choosing herself and how to handle it.

Pulling into the driveway, she exhaled, allowing a moment of nostalgia to wash over her. The wind chimes that she hated to love made sweet music as the wind blew. The garden gnomes her momma loved were still lined up in their neat little row, watching her like old friends welcoming her home.

But home didn’t feel the same. The love was still there, she knew that. But so was the weight of their expectations.

She squared her shoulders and stepped through the gate.

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