I touched the plain wedding band on my left hand, then let my arm fall to my side.

“Take your personal toolboxes, Julian,” I said.

“I’m taking my children and my life back.”

Julian closed his eyes and nodded once, his shoulders sagging.

“Thank you, Audrey,” he whispered.

I turned away from the bench and walked toward the court annex doors.

The heavy double glass doors swung open into the cold noon air at half past twelve.

Weak spring sunshine broke through the gray autumn clouds over Jasper County.