There were days the invoices from lawyers made my stomach tighten.

I had never intended to spend money separating from someone I once loved.

The costs weren’t just financial.

My work schedule became a patchwork of job sites, meetings, school drop-offs, and appointments.

Rachel helped more than I liked to admit.

Daniel Cho kept the business moving.

Warren occasionally brought vegetables from his garden, leaving them at the door without making a fuss.

One evening I asked Rachel whether she was tired of us staying there.