Discussions went much better than I thought. H didn't storm out of the room, nor did he bang his fist on the table or put his fist through the wall. Hey...I have a vivid imagination!
We are set on the child support figures. Done deal. H finally agreed to pay me maintenance, but the amount per month is still up in the air. I think we will all agree on somewhere in the middle. The thing that has me really baffled is that H agreed to pay me maintenance for 5 years! That is on the high end of the time period. Something is up with that! But I told my attorney H probably thinks he won't have to pay maintenance to me when he remarries OW. But that's not how it's gonna happen.
The property division is pretty straightforward. H lowered the value of his car and of our pop-up camper. He said the camper is probably only worth about $500 but he gave me the benefit of the doubt and put $1000 as the value in the spreadsheet. Afterward my attorney and I agreed that if the camper was at such a low value that I should keep the camper as part of the settlement. So that's our new strategy.
I have to hand it to my attorney. He plays H like a violin. He's good. He's expensive, but good. He had H thinking H was making all the rules. In reality, we are getting exactly what we want. And I guess that is how you play the game.
H did try an "aha" moment on me that I was not disclosing a financial asset. He claimed I had 3 CD accounts rather than 2. I told him he was mistaken. He showed me a bank statement for my CDs from 2012 showing the two CDs were account numbers 12 and 13. He said "WH, what is this account #14?" and threw the paper at me. It took a moment for it to dawn on me until I realized that account #12 was closed after I withdrew the $300 from it to pay mediation costs and it was reopened as account #14. Sorry H. You didn't uncover some huge secret I have been hiding. Kudos for your attempt at investigative digging, Sherlock,
So we are a few steps closer. I hope we can come to agreement so we don't have to go to the de novo hearing and my attorney is hoping we can us the contempt charges in our favor to get a sweeter deal and get closure faster. I am feeling hopeful. Not overly optimistic, but hopeful.
And H confirmed I would get the kids next Friday. So I just need to keep myself busy all next week. I am fighting off another cold (thanks to my brother and his germs this past weekend) so I am hoping to feel better so I can do some things on my own before the kids come back.
I am feeling like a new woman right now. I am organizing a "baseball outing" for my department as a bonding experience. I have been attending Adobe InDesign Users Group meetings at our local community college as well. Great for networking and meeting new people and bonding with people you already know. Also good for learning tips and tricks in the trade.
Sun is shining and I feel like 20 pounds has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I just hope H agrees to what he said he would agree to. One step at a time.
WH
AT BD: WH 41, J 43; Bomb 2/5/2012 Two kids, one dog D Final 6/18/14 J marries OW 1/24/15 "No matter where you go, there you are"
