When Arma Stries

Jeff stepped out of the courthouse with a smile and a spry spring. He looked up at the bright blue sun-filled sky and took a deep breath. It was a good day, and he was glad to be alive. Jauntily walking down the courthouse steps, Jeff reviewed the past four months in his mind. Four months ago, he was in a much worse state of mind and sure that his future would be different than it seemed today.

Four months ago, almost to the day, his delightful wife of 24 years had met him at the door with the words that can turn any man into a slobbering pile of useless human flesh. As he entered the house after a long day at his job as a senior investment counselor, she looked him in the eyes as she spoke.

"Jeff, sit down. We are going to talk."

Dropping his suit coat onto a chair, Jeff sank into the chair to which his wife, Steph, had pointed. She took a seat in one of the armchairs across from his recliners. She sat up straight, her face calm and almost impassive.

"The kids are gone and have lives of their own. You have your career and your other hobbies. I spent 20 years as a housewife and mother. I have decided that it is my turn to have a life and I want a divorce."

The words had hit him like a baseball bat on the back of the head. To say he was blindsided was an understatement. There had been no indications that Steph was unhappy or was even considering such an announcement. The best that Jeff could do for a reply was the obvious.

"Are you having an affair?"

"Not yet, but that is on my agenda. I want to experience life beyond the walls of this house and our boring existence. I intend to see things, do things, and experience things."

"But we can do that together. I only have a few years until I retire, and then we can do all those things.."

Jeff watched as she waved her hand dismissively.

"First. I would rather not wait on you any longer. I'm not getting any younger, and I still have some of my looks left. I want to experience things while I still have some of my assets intact."

Jeff shook his head in disbelief as he spoke.

"Do I get any time to rebut any of this, or at least try to change your mind?"

Steph shrugged and spoke with a hint of carefree, nonchalant attitude.

"No. I have made up my mind. There is a copy of the divorce filing on your desk. You will be officially served tomorrow morning at your office. I will get my things together and be gone by tomorrow evening when you get home."

"Might I ask how you intend to support yourself without a job?"

"Why, I will use the support the court will order you to pay, and I intend to get a part-time job. I will also have half of our assets, including the house when it sells. When you decide to retire, I will get half of your retirement. I should be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle."

"You seem confident about all this."

"My lawyer explained it all very simply. We live in a no-fault divorce state. The courts are quite lenient to wives. He assures me that things will go my way, and you should sign the papers and agree to the divorce."

"You don't mind if I get my legal advice, do you?"

"Of course not! What do you think I am, a shrew and a nag?" Get your attorney, look at the paperwork and the division of the assets, and I think you will find that it is a fair offer."

With that, Jeff watched as she stood and headed upstairs to the master bedroom. He sat, stunned, before picking up his suit coat and heading to his study. As Steph had said, a packet of papers in a manila folder was sitting on his desk. He looked at the label on the file folder and read it slowly.

"Fieldton v Fieldton -- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage."

&&&&&

Steph was up and out of the house before Jeff was finished in the shower. He dressed for the office, retrieving the file folder from his desktop, where he paused to make a phone call to the head of the legal department of his firm. Jeff and Dan Springer played golf routinely. Jeff knew Dan couldn't represent him in the divorce. What Jeff needed was a recommendation for a top-notch family law attorney. He soon had what he required and made the second phone call. After a few minutes, he closed the call with an appointment for the next morning with the attorney.

As promised, not long after he arrived at the office, his secretary announced Mr. Peter Paulson. Jeff asked her to send him in and waited for the door to open. A tall, rather gaunt man in his late sixties entered the office. Jeff rose to meet him with a hand extended.

"Mr. Paulson. I assume you are here to serve me with the divorce papers from my wife?"

Peter Paulson looked a little surprised. It was rare for someone receiving service to be so cordial and at ease.

"Yes sir. Are you Jeffery Fieldton?"

"One and the same."

"May I see some identification?"

"Of course."

Jeff presented his driver's license and watched as Peter Paulson checked the name and address against the card clipped to the front of the manila envelope he carried.

"Thank you, sir."

Paulson handed the manila envelope to Jeff. Jeff took the envelope and smiled at Peter Paulson.

"Thank you. Do you need to take a photo or for me to sign something? I have never been served, so I am in unknown territory here."

Peter Paulson finally smiled.

"No sir. That's all I need. May I also thank you for your professional attitude. I get all kinds of responses, and many people I deal with want to kill the messenger."

Jeff chuckled.

"I'm glad I could make your day a little better. I hope the rest of it goes as well."

Peter nodded and quickly exited the office. Jeff tossed the envelope onto the corner of his desk and sat in his large executive chair. His fingers laced behind his head as he leaned back to think. He needed to plan, and he figured the sooner, the better.

&&&&&

Jeff stopped at the bottom of the steps leading up to the courthouse and leaned against the railing. He patted the papers in his pocket and smiled again. Things had worked out just as he had planned. He let his mind wander back to when he began to compose his response to the divorce petition he had been served.

Sitting at his desk, he quickly began inventorying the assets of his marriage. As he suspected, his wife had already raided their joint savings and checking accounts, moving half of those assets out of the account. He immediately opened a new account at another bank, moving the remaining balances of the checking and savings account to his new bank. Checking his credit card accounts, he found that the balances had all been paid off and the accounts closed. He assumed Steph had opened a new account for herself. He wondered how she managed to convince a credit card company to give her a line of credit with no job, no work history, and no assets. Jeff noted that his AMEX card was still open. That wasn't surprising since it was not a joint account, but in his name only.

His next steps were to further protect himself. A call to his cell phone provider canceled the service on his wife's cell phone. Another phone call and the insurance on her car was canceled, and he received a tidy little refund on the policy premiums. Next, he called their old bank, speaking with the banker who he had dealt with exclusively, and explained the situation and what he had been doing. The banker, more of a friend than a business associate, was distraught to hear what was happening but understood Jeff's actions. Jeff then explained that the SUV that his wife normally drove was titled in her name. The banker understood immediately and assured Jeff that the liability of the car payments would no longer be Jeff's responsibility.

That only left the house. Jeff had always loved that house. He and Steph had raised their three sons there, and it was ripe with memories. Jeff was proud of what they... Or rather, he... Had accomplished in the landscaping and other additions they had made to the property. Taking a deep breath, he called a realtor to put the house on the market. He was sure that Steph didn't have the funds to buy out his portion of the equity, and it would have to be sold to satisfy the demands of the divorce settlement. Steph would have to agree and sign the listing agreement. Jeff instructed the real estate agent to contact Steph about getting her signature.

With those tasks accomplished, Jeff laid the manila folder aside and turned his attention to the stock market and the requests from his clients. His mind was clear and focused as he started making phone calls.

&&&&&

That evening, Jeff returned home to find that all of his personal belongings had been moved to the guest bedroom downstairs. He wasn't surprised, nor was he disappointed. He had quickly let go of any extreme emotion about the situation, discovering that, at best, he was mildly annoyed and even a little disappointed. Steph was not at home. Jeff found leftovers in the refrigerator for dinner and then retired to his study, shutting and locking the door, as he sat down to further his plans.

Later, he heard the front door open and close. He assumed that Steph had returned from her excursion. That assumption was proved when he heard footsteps headed upstairs and then the master bedroom door closed. The shower upstairs soon came on. He turned his attention back to his planning.

The next morning, Jeff showered and dressed, and found a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen, but no Steph to be seen. Her car was still in the driveway, so he assumed that she was upstairs, maintaining a comfortable separation. That was fine with Jeff, as he had decided there wasn't a lot left for them to discuss. She had made her decision and taken her position, leaving Jeff to deal with the outcomes.

Jeff took the morning off from work, instructing his secretary to take calls. He was only to be disturbed if something extraordinary happened. Stopping at a local breakfast eatery, he treated himself to an enormous breakfast platter complete with strawberry pancakes, and plenty of fresh brewed coffee. He timed his exit to put him at the family law practice offices precisely three minutes before his scheduled appointment.

An hour later, he walked back outside. The meeting had gone about as he anticipated. The attorney, a pleasant and courteous woman about his age, had looked at the divorce papers and explained that what Steph had predicted was true. He was about to get financially raped with the consent and help of the court system. The attorney advised against contesting the divorce. Doing so would only delay the outcome. She predicted that the assets would be reduced at the end of the battle by a significant amount, which would end up in the pockets of their respective lawyers. Jeff had listened, thanked the attorney, and used his AMEX card to pay for the consultation as he left.

Back at his office, Jeff checked his messages and email. There was nothing of much importance that he couldn't put off. He opened the manila folder, removed the papers, and called his secretary into the office.

"Melody. Bring your notary stamp and logbook. I have some things that need to attention."

She had entered dutifully and promptly, with her seal and her logbook. Jeff turned the pages of the legal document, initialing where it was marked and finally signing on the last page. Melody, without any comments, put her stamp on the document, signed her name, and then completed the logbook entry. She looked at Jeff as she finished.

"Are you ok?"

He grinned as he replied.

"Never better. Would you package these documents and see that they are delivered to Steph's attorney today? Make sure to get a receipt for the delivery."

The next few weeks were remarkably quiet. Jeff was notified that since there was no dispute on the divorce, a quick court date had been set. The divorce would be final after 90 days. Until that time, he and Steph would technically still be married.

The court date came. Jeff sat alone at one table in the courtroom. Steph's attorney sat at the other table, but Steph wasn't to be seen. Everyone stood as the judge entered the courtroom. He gaveled court into session and then immediately looked at Jeff.

'Mr. Fieldton. Do you have counsel present?"

"No, your Honor. I am not contesting anything about the divorce. I didn't see any reason to incur any more expense than necessary to get this matter settled."

The judge had nodded and looked at Steph's attorney.

"Do you have anything to add to these proceedings?"

"No, your Honor. Mr. Fieldton has agreed without any apparent rancor to the requests his wife has made."

The judge looked down at the divorce decree and then back at the courtroom.

"I find that all the legal requirements for this divorce have been met, and it is my order that 90 days hence the marriage of Stephany and Jeffrey Fieldton be dissolved and rendered null and void."

The gavel banged and it was over.

Everyone left the courtroom. There were words or contact. Jeff headed to the door of the courthouse and back to work. Jeff assumed that Steph used half of their assets to continue to make payments on her SUV and to pay for insurance. At any rate, she was still driving it. Jeff was now comfortably living in a small condo near his office. It was convenient and much less expensive than the house. He missed the house, but he didn't miss the huge mortgage payment or the constant upkeep.

A few weeks later, the house sold, and the proceeds of the sale were deposited with Steph's attorney. A day later, Jeff received a cashier's check for his half of the equity after the closing costs, the pay-off of the mortgage, and the fees to Steph's attorney. He deposited the check in his new savings account, noting that the balance in that account was now in the upper six figures.

&&&&&

Jeff stepped away from the railing on the courthouse steps as he turned and headed down the sidewalk toward the parking lot, where his new Corvette sat at the far back corner of the lot. He smiled as he thought about the new car as he walked. His thoughts returned to the happenings of the last two weeks. His face became a bit more grim, but he resolved not to let anything darken his mood on this happy day.

It was almost two months into the ninety-day waiting period when Jeff's secretary came into his office, her eyes wide.

"Sir. There are two policemen here to speak to you."

"Send them."

Jeff rose as the two plain clothes offices entered his office. They were solemn and stone-faced as they entered."

"Jeff Fieldton?"

"Yes."

"Are you married to Stephany Fieldton?"

"For about another 3 weeks then our divorce will be final."

"Mr. Fieldton, I am sorry to have to tell you that your wife, estranged wife, was killed in a traffic accident earlier this morning."

Jeff looked shocked and sat back down in his chair abruptly.

"What happened?"

"Mrs. Fieldton was driving on Highway 31 when she was sideswiped by a semi-tractor trailer rig. She lost control of her car and crashed head-on into a bridge abutment. It appears that it was an accident. The driver is in custody pending the accident investigation."

Jeff nodded numbly. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

"You know. She divorced me, but I still loved her. I can't believe that she is gone."

"Are you going to be alright, Mr. Fieldton? Is there someone we can call for you?

"No. I will be ok. I'll tell my secretary and then call my children. When can I get her body?"

"The medical examiner will be in touch after the autopsy. Here is my card if you have any other questions."

The officers left and Melody came into the office. Her face was streaked with tears.

"Mr. Fieldton. This is awful. I know you were in the midst of a divorce. Are you ok? Can I do anything?"

"No, Melody. I need to call my kids and let them know about their mother. After that, I need to take a few days off and start making some arrangements. I must talk to my attorney again and see how this affects the divorce."

Jeff watched Melody leave his office. He then made the phone calls to his three children, who were aghast at the news. They had all sided with their mother in the divorce, blaming Jeff for whatever caused her to leave the marriage. It hadn't surprised Jeff much, since all three boys had always been closer to their mother, a product of his being focused on providing a decent living and her decision to be a stay-at-home mom.

With that chore out of the way, Jeff called his attorney. She was in court, but her secretary promised to have her call Jeff as soon as she was free. Hanging up the phone, Jeff leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Two days later, after talking to his attorney, Jeff was pleased to learn that, because of his wife's tragic death, the divorce petition was moot. Because the ninety-day waiting period had not expired, the law saw Jeff and Steph as still married, making Jeff Stephanie's heir. That was a pleasant surprise. Jeff asked his attorney to call Steph's attorney and make the arrangements to void the divorce petition and return her property to him. Jeff's attorney had called him back later that afternoon to report that everything was in the works and all that remained was for their will to go through probate.

That was what put Jeff in the courthouse that morning. The judge had reviewed the will that Jeff and Steph had executed several years previously. It only took thirty minutes for the judge to execute the probate, issue the required orders, and call the hearing closed. Jeff had left the courtroom solemnly.

Now walking to his new Corvette, Jeff was smiling and enjoying the day. He patted the papers in his suit coat pocket that gave him back all the property that the court had previously awarded to Steph. In addition, there was the 500,000-dollar life insurance policy that was due to pay off in the next two days. In addition, the trucking company had made a settlement offer that would further increase Jeff's assets by another two million dollars. Jeff was eagerly awaiting the extended trip to the Greek islands with Melody that would start the following week, the same time his retirement would begin.

With a small skip and a twinkle in his eye, Jeff stepped off the curb to cross the parking lot to his new Corvette, never seeing the trash truck that slammed him as his foot hit the asphalt of the parking lot. Karma is a bitch.