Chapter 18 - The Decree of Dissolution and Sole Custody
The final legal decree of dissolution was signed by Judge Eleanor Vance on a crisp November morning,
granting me absolute sole custody of Eli,
complete ownership of all marital properties,
and permanent restraining orders against any future contact from Grant or his associates,
Arthur Vance handed me the final certified copy in his office,
along with a fresh passport for Eli and myself,
“The slate is completely clean,
Mara,” Arthur said,
smiling warmly,
“You survived the worst winter Baltimore has ever seen,
what’s next?”
“We’re taking a trip,” I replied,
holding the blue passport covers in my hand,
“To the Pacific Northwest,
somewhere with tall trees,
quiet mountains,
and no carousels.”
Arthur laughed heartily,
“A prescription of pure wilderness,
I approve completely.”
When I returned home,
I placed the papers in the top drawer of my oak desk,
locking it once and for all,
Eli was sitting on the living room rug,
building an elaborate Lego castle with bricks of every color,
he looked up as I walked in,
his cast now replaced by a light ankle brace that he barely noticed anymore,
“Mom, look,” he said,
holding up a completed tower with a small plastic flag on top,
“It’s finished.”
I knelt beside him on the rug,
pulling him into a tight,
fierce embrace that held all the warmth of a new beginning,
“It’s beautiful, sweetie,” I whispered against his hair,
“And it’s strong.”
“Can we live here forever?” he asked,
resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Forever,” I promised,
knowing that the walls we had built together could never be shaken by wealth,
May you like
by lies,
or by the empty promises of a man who forgot how to love.
