Page 52 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘I’ll get you a pen.’
I sat back down at the breakfast bar and spread the papers out in front of me, reading through again and checking what I needed to do. Half of me was curious to know what Jeremy’s sudden rush was but the other half was more in the ‘good riddance, moving on’ camp. That seemed the healthiest mindset, and I took another mental step towards it as I signed the paperwork in a manner my mother had always told me had ‘rather too much flourish’.
‘All done?’ Nate asked as I pulled the sealing tape from the envelope and ran my finger over the flap, ensuring it was all secure.
‘I think so.’
‘How do you feel?’ His expression was serious.
I thought about it for a moment. How did I feel? The divorce had dragged on far longer than I had expected. Although I knew Jeremy could be awkward when he wanted to be, the levels he had sunk to had surprised and disappointed me. It made me wonder whether he had ever felt anything for me at all. If he had, would he have been quite so vicious in his handling of the divorce, determined to make everything as difficult and expensive as possible for me, knowing he’d already taken the bulk of our money? Could you really do that to someone you’d loved, even if it had only been for a short time? Although I suppose the news and magazines are full of people who had once stood in front of their family and friends and professed everlasting love only to subsequently do vile things to each other, so perhaps I had got off lighter than some and should be grateful.
‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. I guess there’s a whole slew of emotions.’
‘No, it’s fine. But you’re right. When I sit back and think about it all, a whole host of emotions tumble about – sadness, disappointment, surprise – but right now, looking at this envelope and knowing that I’m so close to being able to finally close that chapter, the main feeling is relief.’
Nate nodded.
‘Have you…’ I wasn’t entirely sure how to phrase the question.
He finished it for me. ‘Started divorce proceedings?’
It was my turn to nod, as I dropped the envelope in my bag.
‘Kind of. Although things don’t seem to be progressing that quickly, but I guess she’s busy with her new life.’
‘How do you feel about that?’ The words popped out before I could censor them. ‘I mean, only if you want to talk about it.’
‘No,’ he stayed me momentarily with a hand on my arm. ‘Actually, it feels a bit of a relief to discuss it with someone who understands.’
I gave him a smile. ‘I’m always happy to listen, Nate. Any time.’
‘Thanks, Sophia. I know I’m lucky to have Gabe and Mum and Dad, but I don’t want to burden them with all this.’
‘I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t see it as a burden. From what I know of your parents, and certainly Gabe, whatever they could do to help, they would.’ I felt a sad twist of envy as I voiced this.
‘But sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who isn’t involved… if that makes sense? A step removed from the family.’
‘It does.’
‘So,’ he held out my coat for me and I slipped my arms into it.
‘Thanks.’
‘Basically, I’m waiting on her to agree to what I’ve proposed. When she gets round to it. I think she will. My lawyer wasn’t that happy about things and says she’s got a pretty good deal so hopefully she will see it that way too.’
‘Sounds like you’ve made it very simple for her,’ I said.
‘Yep. I guess I was pretty easy to play. Pretty much whatever she wanted, I gave her. It made it easy.’
‘Goodness, I wish I’d divorced you instead,’ I said, then frowned. ‘Sorry. You know what I mean.’
A resolved expression tinged with sadness hovered over his features. ‘I do. I guess that all makes me sound a bit sappy.’
‘Not at all,’ I said, pulling my woolly hat on and checking my reflection in the hall mirror, before straightening the hat a little. ‘So long as it doesn’t leave you on the streets, and what she asked for isn’t something that means a lot to you, then perhaps it was the best way forward for you.’
‘Yeah, that’s kind of what I thought, too.’
‘Do you have your parcel for the post office?’
