“Carolina, the judge did award you the lake house. Once you agree and sign the terms, you will be responsible for the upkeep of the house. Do you understand?” He cocked his head and waited for her reply.
She nodded.
“Can I get you some more coffee?”
She rubbed her temple. “No thank you. Anymore and I’ll be sick to my stomach.”
“Per the settlement agreement, you have one day to get your stuff out of the house. There will be a police officer who will be there with you just in case there are any issues.”
“A police officer?”
“Yes. Just to make sure nothing goes wrong. You’ll be given an hour to get your clothing.”
“That’s it? Just my clothing? What about my pictures?”
He gave her a look of sympathy. “Do you really want any of those?”
She shrugged. Unshed tears stung the back of her eyes.
“What about my car?”
“You will keep the Jeep Grand Cherokee.”
“That’s Chris’s vehicle. He bought it when he thought he wanted to start hunting again.” She frowned. “What about my Mercedes?”
“Chris pays the lease on the Mercedes so the judge said he could keep it.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Remember, the Jeep is paid off. Right now, you need to focus on reducing your expenses until you can get back on your feet and get a job.”
A job. She’d not worked in the twenty years since she married Chris. Who was going to hire a forty-year-old divorcee with no experience?
She nodded and reached inside her purse for a Kleenex. She pulled it out and realized even though her eyes stung, she had no more tears to shed.
“Carolina, do you understand everything I’ve told you? It’s a lot to take in,” he asked gently.
“Yes, I think so. When can I go to my house to get my things?”
“I can arrange it today if you want?”
She nodded and nervously tore the Kleenex into tiny bits.
“I can go with you if you wish,” he offered.
“No. I’ll be okay. You said an officer will be there?”
“Yes. Here are the keys to the Jeep.” He slid them across the desk to her.
She wrapped her fingers around the cold keys. “I need to get this over with.” She stood and walked over to the window and looked out wondering how she would survive her bleak future.
Chapter 3
Carolina sat parked outside in the musty smelling Jeep. She was told to wait until the police officer arrived before entering the house.
She glanced at the orange and yellow mums in her flowerbed.
She had planted those last fall and had looked forward to enjoying them when Thanksgiving came around. Sadly she wouldn’t get to enjoy them this year, or any year after.
When the divorce started, the judge had ordered that Chris stay somewhere else while she stayed in the home. Three days ago, the judge had amended the order and directed her to stay at a hotel until a final ruling was issued. She didn’t realize at the time that she had stayed in her home for the last time. She had seen other couples divorce and the wife always got the house. So when the final ruling came down she had been shocked.
Movement at the window caught her attention.
