Chapter 7 - THE DIVORCE BEGINSGrace returned home with Madeline.
The house felt different.
Every room contained memories of Caleb.
The couch where they had watched movies.
The kitchen where they had cooked together.
The nursery they had prepared.
Now everything looked like evidence from another life.
Grace began the divorce process.
She worked with Carla to establish custody arrangements.
Caleb requested more time with Madeline.
Grace agreed to gradual, supervised visits.
Not because she trusted him.
Because she wanted to separate her daughter's relationship with her father from the betrayal between adults.
Co-parenting counseling began.
During one session, Caleb asked:
“Do you think you'll ever forgive me?”
Grace looked at him.
“I don't know.”
He lowered his head.
“But forgiveness isn't the price of my peace.”
Caleb was silent.
Grace continued:
“I don't need to forgive you to move forward.”
That became the boundary between them.
They would eventually learn to communicate.
They would eventually discuss school, doctors, birthdays, and schedules.
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But they would never become husband and wife again.
That chapter was over.
