CHAPTER 37 Penny Calloway
Fair and Reasonable
My hands are shaking as I take my spot in the courtroom beside Alexander Voss and Kelly Pierce, and while it’s terrifying to be up here alone with them, this is it.
When I married Brent Calloway, I never saw it ending like this. When he kissed me at the altar and promised me forever, I didn’t imagine he’d cheat on those vows. When we agreed to raise kids together, I couldn’t have in my wildest dreams believed he’d be so willing to give up his rights to them.
But here we are. Believe it or not.
Sammy and Benji are with my mom today, and she’s taking them to their favorite trampoline park. She wanted to be here, but I told her it was more important that she was with the boys today than with me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
They have no clue that when I come home today, the dissolution of my marriage to their deadbeat father will be official. They have no idea what this day means for me…or for them.
Despite the nerves, I’m ready for this chapter to be over. I’m ready to move forward with my life, whatever that may look like.
I glance across the aisle and see Brent there, and his eyes briefly meet mine.
I don’t see the man I married anymore. I see a person I spent a lot of time with but feel like I never really knew.
I guess my hope is that he gets what he wants out of life.
We only get one, and I can’t say I’m proud of the way he’s choosing to live his.
But I also see my past now when I look at him.
I’m not sure what my future holds just yet. My heart keeps telling me one thing, but my brain keeps saying something else.
The judge nods to the bailiff to proceed.
“Case D 417424, Penelope Wade Calloway versus Brent Calloway,” the bailiff says, and both Brent and I go up with our attorneys in tow.
“Good morning,” the judge says. “Please state your names for the record.” He nods to me first.
Alexander says, “Your Honor, Alexander Voss and Kelly Pierce on behalf of Penelope Wade Calloway.”
He nods toward Brent next, and his lawyer responds. “Your Honor, Harrison Billings for Brent Calloway.”
“Raise your right hands,” the judge says, and both Brent and I do. “Do you swear the testimony you’re going to give is the truth?”
“Yes,” we say at the same time.
“The petitioner may proceed first,” the judge says.
Alexander nods and turns to me, and he coached me on this before. It’s like we’re having a conversation. Tell the truth, nothing more, and answer with one word where applicable.
“Please state your name,” he begins.
“Penelope Wade Calloway.”
“Please state your city of residence.”
“Chicago, Illinois.”
“Were you legally married to Brent Calloway?”
“I am.”
“Are irreconcilable differences the reason for the breakdown of your marriage and all efforts at reconciliation have failed?”
No, sleeping with other women is. “Yes.”
“Do you have children with Mr. Calloway?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Two.”
“What are their names?”
“Samuel and Benjamin.”
“Did you voluntarily sign the settlement agreement?”
“Yes.”
“Do you fully and completely understand its contents?”
“Yes.”
“Do you agree that you will retain full parental control with relocation rights?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe the terms of the agreement are fair and reasonable?”
I freeze.
I’m supposed to say yes here.
But the truth—the truth I just swore I’d state—is that it’s neither fair nor reasonable. He should take responsibility for our children, but because I just want this to be over and never have to see his face again, I have to lie.
“I believe the terms of our parenting plan are.”
Alexander gives me a warning look and opens his mouth to ask the next question, but the judge caught my hesitation.
“Ms. Wade Calloway, I need a yes or a no,” he interrupts.
I pause another moment, and I can’t help but glance over at Brent.
“Yes,” I finally murmur.
“Does the parenting plan reflect the best interest of Samuel and Benjamin?” Alexander continues.
“Yes,” I say wholeheartedly.
“Are you asking the court to approve the parenting plan?”
“Yes.”
“Are you asking the court to approve the agreement for the dissolution of marriage?” Alexander asks. He told me this would be the final question.
“Yes.”
The judge stares at me for a beat before he says, “Very well. And our respondent, Mr. Calloway?” He turns his attention to Brent, and his lawyer asks similar questions of him.
After he answers the same final question, the judge looks between us. “Why is there no child support ordered in this agreement?”
“Your Honor, the petitioner and respondent have agreed to the terms herein,” Alexander says.
“But you do understand you’re entitled to seek child support, Ms. Wade Calloway?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” I say, my voice small as I speak around the lump constricting my throat.
Shit. What if he doesn’t approve this?
“And both parties agree this is in the best interest of the children?” he asks.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Brent and I say at the same time.
The judge purses his lips for a beat as he looks between the two of us, and my pulse skyrockets as I wait for him to tell us that we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board because this agreement is shit.
He draws in a breath, and I swear my knees are knocking together as I wait for his next words.
He looks down at the agreement in front of him, and he picks up his pen.
He looks between the two of us once more, and as he drops his pen to the paper, he says, “The court finds this agreement within its jurisdiction and not unconscionable. A judgment for dissolution of marriage is hereby entered.” He signs the paperwork.
“You’re now officially divorced. You’re free to go. ”
I close my eyes against the sting of heat and feel my shoulders drop as all the weight and stress of the last year melt away.
It’s over.
It’s really over.
“Congratulations, Ms. Wade,” Alexander says, calling me by my official legal name now since our divorce decree included my legal name change. “You can breathe now.”
I open my eyes and exhale, and it does feel like I can finally breathe again after being suffocated for far too long.
And as I turn to walk out of the courtroom, my eyes fall onto my best friend seated in the back row. She’s wearing a red dress with her signature red lipstick, and seated to her right is her youngest brother.
A million different emotions plow into me at the very sight of him. Relief, joy, hope. Love.
He stands when my eyes meet his, and he steps out into the aisle as my pulse skyrockets for a totally different reason now.
I walk a few steps toward him, and he walks a few steps toward me. I’m pretty sure my lawyers walk out, and maybe Brent and his lawyers, too—maybe Brent even says something to me, but I’m so laser-focused on the man who showed up for me today.
We meet somewhere in the middle, and the tears fall in earnest now as I collapse into his arms. He holds me upright, and it feels symbolic. His arms are tight around me, as if he won’t let me fall.
It took this exact moment for me to realize how much I needed him here, his arms around me, his strength holding me up in this moment that feels so joyous but also so heavy.
“You came,” I sob.
“I couldn’t miss being here on such an important day for the woman I love,” he murmurs into my hair.
I pull back and stare up into his eyes as I think about the heaviness of the last few weeks—the last few months.
It was lighter when I was with Liam.
Everything was.
The night I ran into him at that bar, I had no idea how my life was about to change. I had no idea that I’d feel more for him in a month than I felt for my ex-husband in the entirety of our marriage.
No one talks about what it’s like to fall in love with someone, to marry a man thinking you’re going to spend the rest of your life with him, only for it to come to a tragic ending. And no one really talks about what it’s like to give everything up just to get out of the trap he’s set.
But here we are, and this is my reality.
I have no permanent place to live, but at least I’ve been saving on rent.
For now. I have to figure out what I’m going to do with the boys and how I can support them on my salary alone.
I have to figure out where I want to settle and what I can afford now that it’s just the three of us.
Maybe Everleigh’s offer comes with a pay increase, and I should take her up on it.
Maybe there’s some other solution I haven’t thought of yet.
But now that this is officially over and I know that I’ll have my boys full time, at least I can concentrate on finding solutions and moving forward. And I think those solutions just might include Liam Bradley.
“The woman you love?” I repeat softly.
He presses his lips together and nods. “The woman I want to be with. Whenever you’re ready.”
Tears fill my eyes as I pull his mouth down to mine, and for the first time in weeks, I feel like I’m home again.