Page 119 of Backup Plan

“Are you asking the court to approve the parenting plan?”

“Yes.”

“Are you asking the court to approve the agreement for the dissolution of marriage?” Alexander asks. He told me this would be the final question.

“Yes.”

The judge stares at me for a beat before he says, “Very well. And our respondent, Mr. Calloway?” He turns his attention to Brent, and his lawyer asks similar questions of him.

After he answers the same final question, the judge looks between us. “Why is there no child support ordered in this agreement?”

“Your Honor, the petitioner and respondent have agreed to the terms herein,” Alexander says.

“But you do understand you’re entitled to seek child support, Ms. Wade Calloway?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” I say, my voice small as I speak around the lump constricting my throat.

Shit. What if he doesn’t approve this?

“And both parties agree this is in the best interest of the children?” he asks.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Brent and I say at the same time.

The judge purses his lips for a beat as he looks between the two of us, and my pulse skyrockets as I wait for him to tell us that we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board because this agreement is shit.

He draws in a breath, and I swear my knees are knocking together as I wait for his next words.

He looks down at the agreement in front of him, and he picks up his pen. He looks between the two of us once more, and as he drops his pen to the paper, he says, “The court finds this agreement within its jurisdiction and not unconscionable. A judgment for dissolution of marriage is hereby entered.” He signs the paperwork. “You’re now officially divorced. You’re free to go.”

I close my eyes against the sting of heat and feel my shoulders drop as all the weight and stress of the last year melt away.

It’s over.

It’s really over.

“Congratulations, Ms. Wade,” Alexander says, calling me by my official legal name now since our divorce decree included my legal name change. “You can breathe now.”

I open my eyes and exhale, and it does feel like I can finally breathe again after being suffocated for far too long.

And as I turn to walk out of the courtroom, my eyes fall onto my best friend seated in the back row. She’s wearing a red dress with her signature red lipstick, and seated to her right is her youngest brother.

A million different emotions plow into me at the very sight of him. Relief, joy, hope. Love.

He stands when my eyes meet his, and he steps out into the aisle as my pulse skyrockets for a totally different reason now.

I walk a few steps toward him, and he walks a few steps toward me. I’m pretty sure my lawyers walk out, and maybe Brent and his lawyers, too—maybe Brent even says something to me, but I’m so laser-focused on the man who showed up for me today.

We meet somewhere in the middle, and the tears fall in earnest now as I collapse into his arms. He holds me upright, and it feels symbolic. His arms are tight around me, as if he won’t let me fall.

It took this exact moment for me to realize how much I needed him here, his arms around me, his strength holding me up in this moment that feels so joyous but also so heavy.

“You came,” I sob.

“I couldn’t miss being here on such an important day for the woman I love,” he murmurs into my hair.

I pull back and stare up into his eyes as I think about the heaviness of the last few weeks—the last few months.

It was lighter when I was with Liam.