It wasn’t the biggest amount on the statement.

It was the clearest illustration of what his lies had cost me: worry poured into a person who had been perfectly safe and perfectly dishonest.

At our next meeting I told Elena I wanted a fair division, not a theatrical victory.

“That’s the right starting point,” she said.

“We’ll deal with what can be documented.”

Meanwhile Brandon began attending a parenting class recommended during mediation.

He complained about the time at first.