“I guess you’re not the only one experiencing the power of retail therapy,” Kit said, and they both laughed.
Kit has never understood stocks and shares. There were times, during their marriage, when Adam would try to explain about the stock market, but Kit would reach a point in the conversation and just blank. She couldn’t understand it, and didn’t want to understand it.
As far as she is concerned, it is all smoke and mirrors. She wasn’t the slightest bit surprised when the financial world collapsed because it all seemed to be a house of cards to her anyway.
When they went through the divorce, she wasn’t interested in Adam’s stocks and shares. Even when they were listed on the assets, she wasn’t bothered, because she never thought of them as real money.
Every few months she tries to put a little money aside. Some into the SEP IRA that Adam started for her when they were first married, and some into what she thinks of as her nest egg, money for a rainy day.
The one place she never thinks to put her money is the stock market, and today she is grateful.
“What’s happening with yours? ”
“I’ve lost everything I had at Bear Stearns.” Adam had worked there for the first few years of his career, and his annual bonuses had been partly cash but mostly stocks. “And the rest of my portfolio has dropped about thirty percent.”
“Oh well. Could be worse. Could be eighty percent.”
“It might be soon. How about you? Are you okay? ”
“I at least don’t have to worry about my stocks disappearing, not having a portfolio.” Kit laughs.
It is not difficult for them to talk about money, as Adam never felt fleeced by Kit, and Kit has always been a little naive about money. Had she been more savvy, she would have gotten a tougher lawyer, and could certainly have had substantially more than she ended up getting. But she wanted to protect the children from a nasty divorce, wanted to be on as friendly terms as possible with Adam, so she ended up agreeing to a settlement that she knew was unfair, but that she believed ultimately saved them all from unnecessary pain, and helped assuage her guilt at the marriage breaking up.
And look at them now. How many divorced couples, even ones who had been through mediation, were able to put their differences aside and have lunch, together, with their children? How many were able to get on this well?
“But are you okay for money?” Adam says. “You know you just have to ask if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Adam.” Kit smiles, knowing that her pride is too strong, that she would rather work three jobs than have to go to Adam to ask for money. “We’re fine.”
“You know, the kids and I were going to have a movie night tonight. Nothing fancy. We’re going to Blockbuster, then doing pizza and popcorn. Why don’t you join us? ”
“I . . . can’t. I have plans. But thank you. That’s really kind of you to think of me.”
“Oh. Sure. A date? ” Adam grins, but Kit is certain that it is only to hide some hurt, and she is sorry.
“Just a friend,” she lies. Why tell him? “Thanks for lunch.”
They smile at each other, but Kit finds it awkward. She turns to call the kids over to say good-bye, still feeling odd as she and Edie climb into her car to drive home.
“Now that is a good man,” Edie says, as they pull on to the Post Road.
“He’s a great father.” Kit nods. “And yes, he is a good man.”
“Wasn’t he a good husband? ”
“In some ways. I know he loved me, but he loved his work more. He didn’t pay any attention to me. I’ve never been so lonely. I know that seeing us together now, you can’t understand how our marriage didn’t work, but I promise you, there were big problems. I was desperately unhappy.”
“And you’re happier now that you’re divorced? ”
“God, Edie. You’re so transparent!” Kit laughs. “In some ways, of course I’m not happier. I’m a working single mother. It doesn’t get much harder than that. There are some days when it’s all I can do to keep my head above water. I adore my children, but it is just so damned exhausting being the only parent, making all the decisions, having to be all things to all people, with no one to ease the burden. But I