His second was to claim that Alder should be treated as his separate property because the down payment had come from a bonus.

His third — and this is the one I think about — was a proposal in which I would keep Alder but would waive maintenance and accept a reduced support figure, on the grounds that I had “chosen not to work” for nine years and could not now claim that this had reduced my earning capacity.

Ruth read that letter out loud to me in her office with an expression of professional delight.

“He’s just written down, in a letter, on his attorney’s letterhead, that you left the workforce for nine years.” She tapped it.