Chapter 6 - A New Dawn
Six months passed.
Jamie’s cast came off, replaced by a lighter brace, and soon he was running without a limp. His laugh, which had been subdued for months, returned stronger and brighter than ever.
During those six months, I didn't just wait for the divorce to settle; I rebuilt my life. The director of the Pittsburgh Art Museum, who remembered my work prior to my marriage, contacted me upon hearing I was returning to the workforce. They offered me the role of Head Registrar and Exhibition Curator.
I accepted immediately.
For the first time in seven years, I was earning my own income, standing on my own two feet, and designing a life based on truth rather than quiet obedience.
I put our white-columned suburban house on the market. It sold within two weeks for well above asking price. With my share of the proceeds, I purchased a charming, light-filled brick townhome in a vibrant neighborhood near the museum, complete with a garden where Jamie could play and a sunroom that I converted into an art studio.
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Bradley, meanwhile, was demoted at Vance & Sterling. His failure to secure the senior partnership, combined with the financial audit triggered by Eleanor’s filings, forced him into a lower-tier position with strict oversight.
Caroline, realizing Bradley’s assets were locked in litigation and his income severely diminished, packed her belongings and moved back to her parents' house in Ohio, leaving Bradley isolated in a small rented apartment downtown.
