Chapter 9 - The New Foundation
By late July, I had relocated to a stunning, light-filled loft apartment in downtown Minneapolis, overlooking the stone arch bridge and the rushing water of the Mississippi River. The walls were decorated with modern art, the shelves filled with books on international finance and architecture, and the air smelled of fresh espresso and jasmine.
On a warm Friday evening, Grace came over, carrying a bottle of vintage champagne and a folder of final court decrees.
"It’s official, Helena," she said, popping the cork with a joyful thump that echoed through the high ceilings of the loft. "The divorce decree is signed by the judge, the criminal probation order for Bennett is finalized, and Naomi’s legal representatives have signed a formal non-harassment waiver."
We sat on the balcony, watching the city lights blink on as the dusk turned into deep indigo.
"How are they doing?" I asked, surprise hitting me when I realized I was genuinely curious from a place of total neutrality, like asking about the weather in a city I had never visited.
"Bennett is working as an assistant site manager for a low-tier construction firm in North Dakota," Grace shrugged, sipping her champagne. "He’s living in a trailer park to meet his probation restitution payments to your firm’s bank. Naomi and your mother are sharing a two-bedroom apartment near the highway. Apparently, they spend most of their time arguing about who ruined whose life."
I smiled, clinking my glass against hers. "They didn't ruin each other's lives, Grace. They just had to start paying their own bills."
May you like
"To the audit of a lifetime," Grace toasted.
"To the cleanest ledger in the city," I replied.
