Page 47 of Absolution

“So, what’s your plan?”

I force a smile. “Well... I can’t talk to a lawyer, but I have amazing siblings. Cory and Marianne. They helped me research some things. Apparently, according to google Texas is a no-fault divorce state. So, it doesn’t matter that he cheated.”

Trish winces. “Oof.”

“Yeah. And we have a prenup.” I shrug. “Naive me signed it. But Ididread it. In case of divorce, under any circumstance, we each leave with what we came in. No alimony. No division of property.”

“And the kids?”

I swallow. “I had a breakdown. I left to stay with my siblings… after my mom died. I think that’s when he started cheating. But he can use that against me, say I’m unstable. Add in the fact that I don’t have a job or any real prospects... I’m screwed.”

She doesn’t try to reassure me. I’m glad.

“For now,” I say, “I’ve started taking college classes again. It’s a long road. I just…” Looking up, I swallow back my tears.

Sniffling, I add, “Sorry for dumping all this on you.”

Trish leans back; hand still wrapped around her coffee cup. “It’s not dumping. You needed to say it.”

I nod. “It’s just hard. Having to swallow my words. Every day. In front of him.”

There’s a quiet beat between us. Then she says, gently, “Did you ever get help? After your breakdown?”

The question catches me off guard. My fingers tighten around the rim of the mug. “My siblings tried,” I say, voice low. “But COVID restrictions made everything hard. Appointments kept getting pushed, and eventually… I just powered through.”

Trish’s face doesn’t change, but something in her posture sharpens.

She takes a deep breath. “I know it’s none of my business. But courts won’t believe in ‘powering through.’ Not when it comes to custody. If you’re serious about leaving and I’m not pushing you, but if you are, you need to start showing thatyou’re capable, and thathe’sthe problem.”

I blink. “But they won’t care that he cheated.”

“Texas has two types,” she says. “No-fault and at-fault. You can pick what you want. But honestly, if there’s a prenup, fault might not even matter. I’m not totally sure how that plays out with the money stuff.”

She pauses, tilting her head. “But custody? That’s a different story. Judges care about patterns, who’s consistent, who shows up. If he’s putting his personal life first, if he’s not around for the kids? That matters. It’s your job to keep records. Texts, missed events, anything that shows you’re the one holding things together.”

I sit back, heart knocking hard against my ribs.

“So… what? I just start taking notes?”

“Better than that,” she says. “Start documenting. While you still have access. Go back, look through old messages, emails, anything with dates. Find proof. Find patterns. If he missedschool events, doctor appointments, if there’s a paper trail that shows he’s checked out... collect it. Quietly. Build your case now, not after you leave.”

I nod slowly, absorbing it all.

Trish’s voice softens. “You don’t have to fight dirty. But youdoneed to fight smart.”

“I don’t even know where to start.”

“You just did,” she says.

She takes a sip of her coffee, then sets it down carefully. “I’ve seen a lot of women, and men, go through this. And I’ll tell you, the ones who come out on top? They don’t let their emotions drive the train. Doesn’t mean you don’tfeelthem. But when it comes to planning, to protecting yourself and your kids, you have to think like a lawyer, not a heartbroken wife.”

I look down, blinking fast.

She nods toward me. “You’ve got time. Just use it well.”

I think about what Trish said the whole long drive home.

Technically, we didn’t need to hire a nanny right away, my college classes are only in the mornings. But I knew the second I told Kyle I’d be using my parents’ money to pay for it, it would bruise his ego. The man takesimmensepride in providing for us, even now, even while betraying me behind my back.

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