But peace bought by surrendering unexamined rights would not be real peace.

It would be another version of the same bargain.

When the meeting resumed, Evelyn proposed a narrower process: neutral accounting, preservation of documents, and separate negotiation of divorce issues that could be resolved without compromising the disputed trust.

Parenting arrangements would remain focused on Miles rather than being used as leverage.

The other side did not accept everything.

Negotiations continued.

On the way home, I asked Evelyn whether there was a way to make all of this less exhausting.