LITTLE BIT STRONGER | A COUNTRY ROMANCE

Chapter Seven

The divorce took a lot out of Kate.

Brian hadn't made things ugly but he'd dragged out the proceedings for months in the hope that she would eventually change her mind.

Kate stayed the course.

Their house sold quickly, being in a pretty area of town near one of the best elementary schools. She'd put a lot of care into renovations and the backyard was a dream.

It had been difficult to hand the keys to the couple who would raise their own family there.

She took everything that belonged to Caleb, her pictures, personal keepsakes, and clothes. She used some of the money from the sale to buy new furniture.

With the exception of a few pieces from her mom and grandmother, she left Brian everything. She couldn't bear the memories that even simple objects possessed.

Let him move it.

It was amazing how much she enjoyed a smaller space and having less to clean. Pictures of her son and family hung on the walls but there were no knickknacks.

Her bedroom furniture consisted of a platform bed and two tall chests for clothing. A small desk and her laptop took up one corner of the room. There was one television she rarely turned on unless it was a movie for Caleb.

The simplicity of her environment - of her new existence as a divorced mom - helped her cope with so many the chaotic changes.

At her parents' house for the duration, Kate waited to see where Brian would live before she searched for her own home. It was a small town and she didn't want to risk being his neighbor.

He moved into Felicia's house three days after their divorce was final. Kate was surprised that he waited so long since he'd been living in the rundown apartment above his estranged father's garage.

Despite expecting him to move in with the woman he cheated on her with, hearing the confirmation from her brother hurt more than Kate had braced herself to feel.

Some things you couldn't truly prepare for.

She found an apartment as far across town as she could get from Brian and his girlfriend.

When her mind and heart found their rhythm again, she would think about looking for something to buy.

Their son was the one area where she'd underestimated Brian. She honestly thought having a small child around would cramp his new lifestyle - that he'd be happy to be free to do as he wished.

Her ex-husband insisted on equal custody. To make sure he was available, he requested a return to his original daytime schedule. The company agreed.

As a result, Caleb spent every other week with his dad.

Their little boy had books, toys, and clothes at both of his homes and they shared the responsibility of taking him back and forth to school, appointments, and extracurricular activities. Her family had been an incredible help as Kate adjusted to her new life.

Kate knew Felicia spent a lot of time around her son. She hated it but dealt with what was.

Over time, perhaps she could think about the other woman without animosity. It was too soon to attempt civility. She could barely manage with Brian but faked it for Caleb's sake.

Her wounds were still raw.

When it was her week with Caleb, her schedule was fixed - set hours so she always knew where she'd be.

On the weeks she didn't have him, Kate worked insane amounts of overtime. She devoted herself to running and being with her family.

Anything to keep from dwelling on her son, his dad, and what they were doing together.

Kate had experienced doubts throughout the process. Lying in bed, when the night was quiet, when the loneliness or sadness hit hard, she waffled more than once.

She knew she was making the right decision and leaned heavily on Roberta when her resolve threatened to fail her.

"Feeling unsure is common, Kate. You're going to get through this and start fresh. It's going to hurt for a while but you're one of the strongest people I know...and you'll be okay. I know that."

Never once did she express doubt to Brian. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of being overly emotional.

She maintained her composure, spoke rationally, and ended their marriage without shedding one public tear.

It was harder to hide the pain when she was alone.

She loved Brian - she would never lie about that - and his actions cut her deep. For months following the divorce, she alternated between wishing they could press rewind and wanting to hit him in the face.

Krista started trying to fix her up when she'd officially been single for six months.

Kate's standard answer was absolutely not. "It's too soon, Kris. Maybe it's been long enough for other people but not for me. I'd project all my mistrust and anger on a new man and that wouldn't be fair. I'm not in the frame of mind yet...I don't know when or if I will be."

Her entire life had gotten flipped upside down. As a planner, she'd charted out her future with Brian. She'd even planned on talking to him about having another baby once Caleb started school.

Despite having a strong support system, it took everything she had to keep it together.

One day at a time, one obstacle at a time, she focused on healing, moving on, and being a good mother to her son.

Kate wasn't happy but she was doing her best to be content.

© Shayne McClendon