Chad took a sip on his hot chocolate. Harlem was definitely looking up. He couldn’t believe all the development that he’d seen. It was booming.

The waitress came by with the sandwich Chad had ordered. Here he was in a computer café in Harlem. Will wonders never cease. Chad had checked his emails, and just as he was about to log off, he saw her come online.

Musicman2000: Hey T.
Fategirl: Chad! How are you?
Musicman2000: Doing good.
Fategirl: Did you find Simone?
Musicman2000: Not yet. Got some good leads.
Fategirl: We’re all praying here.
Musicman2000: How’s my mother?
Fategirl: Keeping busy. Worried. Um… I don’t know if I should tell you this.
Musicman2000: What?
Fategirl: My mother overheard Julian this morning. Seems like Dr. Russell is going through with the divorce.
Musicman2000: Now?
Fategirl: My mother thinks she wants it to be out of the way so when Simone gets back..
Musicman2000: She won’t be put in the middle of it. I guess I see it. How’s Whitney?
Fategirl: Not that she’d tell me anything lately, but I did go by to offer my sympathy. She wasn’t as hostile to me as usual.
Musicman2000: Takes time, T.
Fategirl: I know. Are you safe?
Musicman2000: T, I grew up on the streets. I know how to take care of myself. But, yeah, I’m safe.
Fategirl: How is New York? I’ve never been there.
Musicman2000: Not that I’m here on a vacation, but, I’ve been doing a little sightseeing, as I wait for my leads to pan out. It’s a happening place. When I find Simone, and she’s back home. I’m going to bring you here for a vacation – K?
Fategirl: It’s a date. Well, I have to go. Got class in five minutes.
Musicman2000: Ok.
Fategirl: Chad?
Musicman2000: Yeah?
Fategirl: I miss you. Come home soon. Bye.

Chad logged off, and read the paper. He wasn’t really reading it. He was thinking about Simone. His mother. Whitney. His family. How much he had come to love them. Whitney was a little tricky, but as days went by, it wasn’t as painful to think about her as usual. The hurt was lessening. He was going to find Simone. He had to.
 

They were all back in court.

” All rise. The honorable Sharon Wolcott presiding.”

The judge came back into the courtroom.

“ I’ve looked over all the documents and the arguments put forth by both sides in the writings.

On the plus side, both parties agree that they want things settled today.

So, I am going to grant the divorce today.

Mr. Russell retains full ownership of not only the primary residence, but the lakehouse.
Mr. Russell will get half of the marital investments. The other half, as per Dr. Russell’s request, will be put into trust to be divided equally between the daughters, and they will receive their funds upon reaching their 30th birthday.

Custody of the minor child, Simone Lena Russell will be as following: Thornton Russell and Eve Russell will share joint custody of the child, with the child living with Mr. Russell as primary residential custodian. Dr. Russell will not only have generous visitation with Simone, at least 3 days per week, but she will get physical custody of Simone three of four weekends per month. Mr. Russell will get Thanksgiving, Dr. Russell, the entire Christmas Holiday, and they will split her spring break. Any and all decisions pertaining to Simone’s educational, physical, mental needs must be made JOINTLY by Mr. And Dr. Russell.

Being a judge in this court, I always ask the litigants to remember that once upon a time, they loved one another enough to marry. From these papers, Mr. And Dr. Russell, you have been married 20 years. I hope that you can work out something amicable outside of the legal procedures here today because you have children, and even if they are older children, you will be their parents until the day you die. You will have grandchildren in common for years to come.

Divorce granted. “ The judge banged her gavel, and they all rose as the judge left the room.

Eve hugged Alexis. “ Thank you so much, Alexis.”

“ Just did my job.”

Eve looked over to TC’s table. She shook her head, then turned to Julian.

” Can we get out of here?”

” Sure.”
Julian mouthed to Alexis ‘thank you’, and he escorted Eve out. They went to Julian’s limo and got inside. Eve said nothing, and looked out the window. When the car stopped, they were on a remote part of the Crane Estate, with wonderful views. There was a lone bench where they both sat.

Eve stared out at the view. Julian looked out at it too, until he heard Eve’s quiet sobs getting louder. He pulled Eve in for a hug. He let her cry on his shoulder until she finished. Eve sat up. Julian gave her a handkerchief.

” Thanks.”

” No problem. Are…are you having regrets?”

Eve turned to Julian and smiled slightly. “ No. No regrets. Today had to happen, but that doesn’t stop today from being one of the worst in my life. Julian, I don’t know what your marriage to Ivy is like. But, my marriage to TC was a big, no HUGE part of my life for 20 years. Twenty years. That’s a lot of time to put into something. It was a living thing, my marriage. I worked at it. Nutured it. Focused so much time and energy on it. From it came a family. The adage is true: divorce IS like a death. I guess I’m in mourning. I know I should have been ready for it, after all, it’s been months since…”

“ Eve, it’s ok.”

” But, the finality of the judge’s decree really hit me hard. For something to have been so important to me for so many years, to end so simply in a cold place like a courtroom. ….I’d like to go home now.”

“ Are you sure?”

Eve nodded. “ Yes. I need to mourn alone, Julian. “

“ Ok. I’ll take you home.”
 

TC Russell sat in his darkened bedroom. On the edge of his bed. Despite their belief that TC had rid the house of all pictures of Eve, in his hands, he held one momento of their life together. Their wedding picture. And, as the setting sun hit his face, the glistening of his tears was obvious.