Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
M andy heard from her lawyer the next day that they finally had a hearing date, in exactly one month.
She put the date on the calendar and cleared all commitments.
She wasn’t sure how long it would take or how she’d feel emotionally after.
But she knew she didn’t want to have to worry about being anywhere other than to pick up the kids and then hunker down at home.
It would still be ninety days before the divorce would be final and they could celebrate.
The day of the hearing, Mandy curled her hair and wore her favorite blue sweater and black pants.
She added a string of pearls and a swipe of lipstick.
She wasn’t trying to impress anyone, but she felt better, more confident, if she knew she looked put together.
She tucked a few soft tissues into her purse and hard candies just in case her throat got scratchy.
She steeled herself to get through the court appearance.
Her attorney met her at the courthouse at nine thirty, and they went inside. A few minutes later, Cory arrived with his attorney. He was wearing his favorite suit and tie, and Mandy smiled. It was good to know he was a little rattled too. It was a difficult day for both of them.
They waited until their names were called, and then it all happened in a blur.
Mandy heard her attorney speaking and then Cory’s, and they went over the terms of the agreement.
The judge asked both of them if they agreed or if they had any issues, and they both stated that they agreed.
A moment later, the judge granted the divorce petition and said the documents would be filed, and in ninety days, they’d officially be divorced.
Cory didn’t come over to chat. He rushed out of the courthouse with his attorney, and Mandy guessed he was in a hurry to get back to the office and get on with his day.
He finally realized that he and Mandy were never getting back together.
Mandy sighed and released the tension she’d been holding since she stepped into the courthouse.
She felt a bit flat and empty. She had expected more somehow, for the proceeding to be a bigger deal, but it was a straightforward process, and now it was over.
Almost over. In ninety days, she could celebrate.
And maybe by then, she would feel like celebrating. Right now, she just felt numb.
“Are you okay?” Lindsay asked gently.
Mandy forced a smile. “I’m fine. Let’s head out.”
They walked outside, and Lindsay said she’d be in touch. “If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”
“I will. Thanks, Lindsay.”
Mandy drove home and changed out of her clothes and into her softest sweats.
She washed the makeup off her face, slathered on moisturizer, and gathered her hair into a ponytail.
She made herself a cup of hot chamomile tea and took it upstairs into the small nook off her bedroom.
That was her favorite reading spot, and she curled up on her plush oversize chair and pulled a fleece throw over her.
Her eyes felt heavy as she sipped her tea and stared out the window at the ocean.
The views were gorgeous from this second floor window, and it was soothing to stare at the waves crashing on the shore.
It was a dark and cloudy day, and some of the waves were huge with white tips.
She felt like a piece of her had died, like her marriage was a living breathing thing, and now it was gone.
She wondered how Cory felt and then hated that she thought of him still.
She hoped he was miserable and full of regret, but she doubted he felt that much.
Cory had always been good at compartmentalizing things, letting them go, and moving on. She wished it were that easy for her.
Her eyes grew heavier still, and she set her teacup down and pulled the throw tighter around her and slipped away, escaping into a deep sleep for several hours.
She woke finally a little before two, with a grumbling stomach and to the sound of banging on her front door.
That was odd. People didn’t usually just stop by.
Maybe it was a delivery person. She dragged herself up and slowly made her way downstairs to the front door.
She peeked out the side window expecting to see the UPS driver, but it was Barbara.
She opened the door, still half asleep, and looked at her in confusion. “Hi. What are you up to?”
Barbara held up her phone. “Why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been calling and calling.”
Mandy yawned. She had no idea where her phone was. In her purse probably. Normally it never left her side. She kept it nearby in case something happened to the kids and someone tried to reach her. But not today.
“I’m sorry. I was napping actually. I just woke up.”
Barbara looked apologetic. “And I just woke you up. I’m so sorry, Mandy. It didn’t occur to me that you’d be sleeping. You’ve never been a napper.”
“No. But there’s a first time for everything. Come on in.”
“Are you sure? I can just go so you can go back to sleep.”
“I’m sure. I need to go get the kids in an hour or so anyway.”
“Have you eaten yet?” Barbara stepped inside and held up a white bag. “I brought your favorite treat.”
Mandy recognized the bag from an ice cream shop downtown. “Ice cream?” Her stomach growled thinking of it.
Barbara laughed. “Looks like I got here just in time.” She handed Mandy a hot fudge brownie sundae.
“You are the true love of my life,” Mandy said. “Thank you.”
“I knew it might be a rough day. Let’s go sit and eat.”
They took their ice cream into the family room and sat on opposite ends of the sofa. Mandy spent the next hour alternating between eating ice cream and crying. Barbara hugged her when she needed it and listened as Mandy told her how she was feeling.
“It will get better,” her best friend assured her. “I promise.”
By the time all the ice cream was gone and Barbara had left with a final hug and instructions to call anytime, Mandy was starting to come back to life. And once she was dressed and on her way to get the kids, she felt more at peace and accepting that her marriage was really and truly over.