Chapter 13 - The Woman at Register Five
By the time Lily was several months old, arrangements concerning financial support and carefully structured parenting contact had been established. Thomas followed the schedule, though I remained cautious about every promise.
Some days he seemed genuinely changed. Other days he slipped into talking as though money could make decisions easier for everyone.
I reminded him that Lily needed a dependable father, not expensive distractions.
Grand Foods welcomed me back part-time when I was ready. Marta put a tiny paper sign near the break-room refrigerator that read WELCOME BACK, LILY'S MOM.
I laughed so hard I nearly cried.
Lena continued helping me resolve the disputed marital settlement. The forged authorization was challenged and corrected through the legal process, and recovery and property issues were addressed on their own terms.
Thomas asked once whether we might try again as a couple.
I looked at him across a café table.
“I don't want to rebuild the marriage we had.”
“What if we built something different?”
“We can build a responsible way to raise Lily. That's what I can offer.”
He absorbed the answer.
“I understand.”
This time, he didn't call it unfair.
A few weeks later, Marta asked whether I'd considered taking business courses. Grand Foods needed an assistant manager, and she thought I'd be good at it.
I looked down at Lily asleep in her stroller.
May you like
For the first time in months, I imagined a goal that had nothing to do with Thomas, Sarah, Vincent, or court documents.
“Maybe,” I said. “I'd like to try.”
