Chapter 23: The Decree

The final hearing was on a Tuesday in March, in the same cold courtroom.

Snow was still dirty at the curb outside, and the radiators knocked.

Derek sat at the respondent's table with a lawyer I had never seen.

He was in the same good suit, but it hung differently.

Ellery Mutual's review had ended in January, eleven days after it started.

It ended with a letter, and the letter ended with the word terminated.

The judge entered, and we stood.

She read from a pad without hurry.

"In the matter of Kane and Kane," she said. "The court finds the marriage irretrievably broken and dissolves it."

I had been ready for that part.

My hand still found the edge of the table.

"The house on Beech Street is titled to the respondent alone," the judge said.

"However, the petitioner's mother's insurance money paid the down payment, sixty-two thousand dollars, and the wire records are in evidence."

"The house will be sold within ninety days."

"From the proceeds, the petitioner is repaid sixty-two thousand dollars first."

"The remainder is divided equally."

Derek's lawyer started to rise.

"Counsel," the judge said, "I have read your brief. Sit."

He sat.

"Primary physical and legal custody of June Kane is awarded to the petitioner," the judge said.

I held my breath, and it came out as a sound.

Jill, in the row behind me, squeezed my shoulder hard enough to hurt.

"The respondent's parenting time will be supervised for six months," the judge said.

"It will proceed to unsupervised daytime visits after counseling with a provider the child specialist approves."

"The provider reports to this court."

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