Love After Layoffs novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: Spring

The judge signed the decree at ten past eleven on Thursday, in a courtroom that smelled like floor wax.

She did not look up while she did it.

"Ms. Weller, the marriage is dissolved," she said.

"The property at the Squirrel Hill address is awarded to you, free of the second lien, which is declared void."

"Thank you, Your Honor."

"Mr. Doyle's counsel has asked me to note that his client waives the piano."

"His client never owned the piano," I said.

The judge's mouth moved, very slightly.

"Noted," she said.

Justin sat at the other table in a suit that was too big for him.

He didn't turn around when I stood.

In the hallway, I took out a pen and signed the last page of the settlement against the wall.

Janine Weller.

Two flat words, with a hard bar through the W.

Yvonne was waiting at the end of the corridor with a scarf she had knitted in a color she called confidence.

"You look like a woman who owns a house," she said.

"I look like a woman who needs lunch."

"Same thing, honey."

On the courthouse steps the April sun hit my face for the first time in months.

Brooks stood at the bottom with his hands in his pockets, in a plain gray sweater, without a tie.

He did not ask how it went.

He opened his arms, and I walked down into them.

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