The Decision
At this point, it was no longer about Peter and what he had or hadn't done.
It wasn't about Will, either, not really, although that's what Peter seemed to think.
It was, finally, after more than fifteen years as only 'Peter Florrick's wife,' about Alicia. She had been constrained by her 'good wife' persona since the day she'd made the decision to marry Peter, but no longer.
She liked discovering who that idealistic law student she'd once been could become. Entering law school at twenty-two, she'd been so sure of who she'd be. She'd had her sights on a name partnership – a choice that classmate and friend Will Gardner supported her in and pursued for himself. They'd had it all figured out at Georgetown, the two of them – at least until it all came crashing down.
But this still wasn't about Will.
This was solely about Alicia. It was about Alicia finding new ways to stretch her wings, to push the boundaries of that 'good wife' box a little bit further, at work and at play.
She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed courtroom battles and plotting strategy with her colleagues. The long hours she spent in the office only served as a reminder of how much she'd always loved being a lawyer.
Having Kalinda in her life was also a revelation. Over the last fifteen years, Alicia had had 'friends,' mostly wives of Peter's colleagues or the mothers of her children's classmates. Kalinda was different – she stuck by Alicia no matter what, and had even gone to great lengths to cheer her up after Cary was fired.
A ripple of laughter escaped Alicia, remembering tequila shots at the bar, while her best friend tried in vain to get Alicia to go for it with Will. The giggle fades away as Alicia realizes how close she came to doing just that. If Will hadn't needed her to go to Colin Sweeney's, if he'd been calling for any other reason, she may have heeded Kalinda's advice.
But the moment had passed and Alicia hadn't stepped out of line. Then she was forced to muddle through Peter's release party. How she'd wanted to slap Jackie for treating her like the meek, unquestioning 'good wife' she'd once been. Couldn't Jackie see that everything had changed since Alicia learned of Peter's cheating? That being forced back into the working world had spawned a new Alicia, one who realized now that she'd outgrown her husband?
Alicia took a deep breath and signed the final paper. This wasn't about Peter, or Will, or Kalinda, Jackie, or the kids. This was about Alicia, and it was finally time.
She left her ring on top of the divorce papers on Peter's dresser and left the apartment, already dialing her cell phone. "It's over. I signed the papers and left them in his room. What should we do tonight?"
The husky voice on the other end laughed and suggested something Alicia had been contemplating for weeks.
With a grin, she answered, "Okay, Will, but I've already promised Kalinda celebratory tequila shots after work…" With that, the new Alicia forged ahead into the life she was finally exerting control over, the destiny she was choosing for herself.