Chapter 4

After ten minutes, she jolted at the touch of a hand on her shoulder. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Carter asked.

She had forgotten he was home, likely buried in his studies for hours, avoiding his father as usual. Blinking back tears, she looked up, and despite everything, her mood lifted at the sight of his bright, innocent face.

“I’ll be fine, Carter. I’m just a little overwhelmed. Your dad just told me he wants a divorce. He’s moved out,” she said, unsure how he would take the news.

Carter’s expression shifted from concern to quiet contemplation as he absorbed her words. He glanced toward the door, secretly hopeful he wouldn’t have to see his father again.

“I kind of figured this was coming,” he admitted softly. “He was never really much of a father, and I don’t think he was a very good husband, either.”

Serena’s heart clenched at the maturity in his voice, the way he seemed more confident. She reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know this isn’t easy.”

Carter clasped her hand tightly and stated, “Honestly, Mom? It’s probably for the best.” He offered her a small, reassuring smile. “At least now, we don’t have to pretend things are okay when they’re not.”

He gently pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in a tight embrace. They swayed together, finding comfort in their unbreakable bond. “It’ll be alright, Mom,” he whispered. “I’ll take care of you from now on.”

A smile broke through her tears, and for the first time in hours, the weight on her heart felt a little lighter.

When her sister, Jackie, heard about her divorce, she called immediately. “I’m so sorry, Sis. How are you and Carter holding up?” she asked, her voice sincere.

“We’re coping the best we can,” Serena replied. “There’s so much to sort out, trying to find a lawyer and deciding how to move forward. I just worry I’m not going to have much time for Mom.”

“Don’t worry about Mom, Sis,” Jackie assured her. “I’ll make it my full-time job as Bob has been on the road a lot lately. You know him, always chasing a big business deal somewhere.”

A warning bell rang in Serena’s mind at the mention of her sister’s husband being away so often; just like Dave had been. But it wasn’t her place to say anything, so she simply replied, “I really appreciate it, Sis. I owe you. Is there anything I can do to help make things easier?”

“Actually, yes. I’m running into trouble finalizing a lot of the paperwork. Mom’s attorney mentioned that things would go much smoother if I were named executor of Dad’s estate and possibly Mom’s, if it comes to that.”

“That sounds reasonable. If you need my approval, I’m more than happy to give it,” Serena assured her sister.

“That will definitely help. The attorney said I only need Mom’s consent, but having everyone on the same page makes things smoother. I’ll stop by later so you can sign the paperwork,” Jackie said. “Have you decided on an attorney yet? Maybe Mom’s could assist you.”

“I haven’t given it much thought, but I think I’ll check with Emma and see what she recommends. She went through her divorce not too long ago,” Serena replied

“Isn’t she one of your friends from your group of Den Mothers? Didn’t you all call yourselves ‘The Vixen Circle’ or something like that?” Jackie asked.

“Yep, that’s us,” Serena said with a chuckle. “We’ve all stayed in touch, but Emma and I are the closest. I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“If you change your mind, let me know,” Jackie said. “I’ve got to run. Take care, Sis.” As soon as she hung up, Serena dialed Emma and arranged to meet the next day.

They met at a restaurant, and after divulging all the details to Emma, she immediately dove into offering her support. As she outlined the legal process her attorney had guided her through, Serena found herself momentarily distracted, mesmerized by her friend’s timeless beauty. Emma’s Armenian heritage was striking, her sleek, jet-black hair cascaded forward, framing her delicate yet expressive face. Her slightly prominent nose only enhanced her refined features, complementing her high cheekbones and large, chocolate-brown eyes that radiated warmth and intelligence. It was no surprise that other patrons stole glances at her, drawn in by her effortless elegance.

“Serena, did you hear me? Which direction were you interested in?” Emma asked, breaking Serena out of her trance.

“Sorry, my mind wandered with everything going on,” Serena said. “What was the question again?”

Emma smiled, giving her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know this is a tough time, but I’ll help you through it. You have two main options: go after everything you can, which could drag things out, or settle for what’s fair and move on. With his admission of cheating and the pregnancy, you have leverage either way. It’s entirely up to you.”

Serena exhaled, considering her options. After a brief pause, she nodded. “I’d like to keep the house, hold on to my retirement investments, and take a third of our assets which should balance out the house’s value.”

“That sounds more than fair, considering he’s entirely at fault,” Emma agreed. “I’ll call my attorney and get the ball rolling. We can meet at my place to go over the details, and from there, I’ll handle everything. Divorce can be overwhelming, but trust me, it’ll be much easier if you let me take care of the legal side.”

Serena exhaled in relief, her gratitude evident. “I knew calling you was the right choice. You’ve always been there for me, ever since we first met as Den Mothers. We’ve been through so much together, and I can’t thank you enough for standing by me again.”

“We’ll get through this and you’ll see that your life will be much better without him. By the way, how’s my favorite Cub Scout, Carter, doing? Is he upset about his father leaving?” she asked.

Serena giggled at hearing Emma refer to her son as her Cub Scout, a title from a decade earlier. “Surprisingly well,” she replied. “Dave never really took an interest in raising Carter, so it wasn’t as heartbreaking for him as it might be for other kids. My biggest worry now is sending him to college. I had hoped to stay in the marriage long enough to secure that. Sometimes I feel selfish for not confronting Dave’s infidelity sooner, but I felt like I had no other choice. Carter’s happiness always came first.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. You did what any mother would do: put your child first. I’d have done the same for Noah. Actually, after my divorce, he and I have grown even closer, learning to manage without a second income. Oh, and speaking of Noah, he still brings you up from time to time. You do know he had a crush on his Den Mother, don’t you?” she added with a playful smirk, her eyes glinting with warmth.