A/N: Things may not be correct as far as legalities and such. There are a few reasons for this: one, I'm a single Canadian woman without kids, writing a story about a woman with a daughter divorcing her husband set in the USA. Two, I need the story to go how I want it to; the exact legalities may not help that purpose. And three, I could research this for years and still get it wrong. So rather than remain petrified at the thought of getting it wrong, I'm giving you this warning instead.

Some of the reviewers have had wonderful ideas for the story, and I thank you.

P.S. Google Translate is responsible for any mistranslations.

Chapter Twenty-One

Stephanie POV – October 11, 2022

I woke early, my mind full tilt with everything I knew I had to do today. Most important was my meeting with Mr. Manoso. We should be filing the divorce papers today, which means Richard, I mean, The Dick, would probably be calling me. I'm thankful that he never wanted to visit my family, preferring to force them to visit us in New York instead, though not too often, of course. As a result, he has no idea where Tank and Jeanne Ellen live, and I'm reasonably sure that their ownership is concealed behind some company, and their names don't appear anywhere. I'm glad I don't have to worry about him coming here.

Jeanne Ellen is coming to Rangeman with me today. I asked her to sit in the meeting with me, primarily for emotional support but also because I needed her insights. Tank agreed to hang out with Zoë during my meeting, but I will seek out Hector before it starts.

I was quietly looking forward to starting this next chapter of my life while my sister drove us to Rangeman. True, there will be lots of new experiences and situations, but if I'm candid with myself, I've needed to do this for a long time. Despite my being in the dark about some of the awful things The Dick has done to me, he was controlling and sometimes emotionally abusive toward me, and I stuck my head in the sand and tried to ignore it to keep my family unit whole.

She parked in a visitor spot near the elevator, and after I grabbed the bag filled with stuff for Zoë, we ascended to the fifth floor and Tank's office.

Jeanne Ellen kissed Tank hello while I dropped Zoë's bag on the floor beside his couch. We sat down and chatted briefly. At nine o'clock, Tank dialled Hector's extension and confirmed he was in his office, and then he escorted Zoë and me downstairs to meet him.

Hector was a total surprise when I rounded the corner and came into his office. He was a couple of inches taller than me, with a compact, muscular body. His hair was cut very short, and two teardrop tattoos were below his left eye. He was a very good-looking man, with intense dark brown eyes and skin the colour of caramel.

Tank introduced us because Hector didn't speak English very well.

"Hola Estefanía. ¿Cómo estás? Lamento mucho sus problemas, pero me complace ayudarlo en todo lo que pueda."

Tank translated, "Hi, Stephanie. How are you? I'm so sorry for your troubles, but I'm pleased to help in any way that I can."

I smiled and stuck out my hand to shake Hector's. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Hector. I appreciate all you've done to help me; thank you."

He took my hand while Tank translated for me and shook it gently. His skin was very soft. "Lo que sea por ti, Estefanía. Su hombre es un cerdo y espero obtener suficiente evidencia para su abogado."

Tank said, "Anything for you, Stephanie. Your man is a pig, and I hope to get enough evidence for your lawyer."

I smiled, kissed my fingertip and placed it against the teardrops on his left cheek. I brought Zoë to stand in front of me. "This is my daughter, Zoë."

He knelt, smiled at Zoë, and said, "hola, Niñita."

Zoë reached out to touch Hector's teardrop tattoos and giggled when he winked and made them move. "What does 'hola' mean?" she asked.

I replied, "it means hello in Spanish, Zo-zo."

We spent the next ten minutes chatting through Tank, and Hector promised he'd pass along anything he could for the lawyer, who could then request it through official channels for the divorce. Using stolen and hacked files wouldn't be proper evidence in our divorce, which was too bad. One legal thing he could obtain was a kind of 'image' of his paysite, which was still up. My lawyer could request the judge to get the owner's information from the domain company. We said goodbye about ten minutes before Mr. Manoso arrived and returned to the fifth floor.

Jeanne Ellen was sitting in Tank's office with Ranger, talking quietly. They were reminiscing about their former Army days from the sounds of it.

We entered his office, and Zoë immediately went behind Tank's desk to sit in his chair. She spun around in the chair several times with a sing-song "whee" erupting from her lips, along with some giggles.

I smiled at her, then rummaged through her bag and pulled out her crayons and a sketchbook so she could draw some pictures.

"We should probably head down to the conference room," said Jeanne Ellen, taking a peek at her Apple Watch. I nodded.

"What will happen with Zoë while you're in the meeting?" Ranger asked.

"She's going to stay here with me," replied Tank.

"Oh, you're not going to be in the meeting?" asked Ranger.

"No, someone's gotta stay with Squirt here," Tank responded.

Ranger said, "I can stay with her if you'd like, Stephanie, so that Tank can come to the meeting."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I don't want to put you out."

"She seems like a good kid. We'll probably draw you some pictures," he said with a wink.

I chuckled. "If you're sure, I'd love it if Tank could come to the meeting with me."

He nodded. "Happy to help, Babe."

I kissed Zoë on her forehead, then Tank, Jeanne Ellen, and I took the stairs to the third-floor conference room. We sat down, and a few minutes later, Mr. Manoso entered the conference room. He greeted each of us and sat at the head of the table.

"Stephanie. I've been reviewing the documentation Jeanne Ellen emailed me yesterday, and I've got to say you've got an excellent case here. You have a case for an at-fault divorce with the adultery he committed with your nanny; however, the lack of evidence is a problem. But, it could be a launching point, allowing us enough time to request the marriage details from Connecticut for his illegal marriage to his second wife. You also potentially have a case for a case based on cruel and inhuman treatment. That means your physical or mental health is in danger if you continue living together.

It is often easier and less costly to file a no-fault divorce. However, you'd have to have been separated for longer than you have been. I know you're anxious to begin proceedings, and based on the other things that have come to light since leaving your husband, I understand your urgency. Once we have filed the papers and received a response, I will file motions to obtain the Connecticut marriage and birth records for his second wife and two sons and the website ownership records that Tank sent me." He stopped to pour some water from the pitcher into the glass before him and then took a sip.

"Tank and Jeanne Ellen, thank you for the information you've sent me. It will help to force the proceedings to move forward at an expedited pace, which I know is what Stephanie prefers. Stephanie, there are a few things I must make sure you understand. If the divorce papers are filed based on adultery, then it is imperative that you do not also commit adultery. I don't mean to imply that you've cheated on your husband. Still, it would be a bad idea to begin any new relationships until the divorce is finalized, including informal relationships with a sexual component. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

I was reeling with all the information Mr. Manoso had given me, but I understood what he was saying. "I should not have sex with anyone until my divorce is final."

He nodded. "Based on what you've told me about your marriage, I'd advise against speaking directly with your husband about the divorce or custody without witnesses, preferably in a controlled environment with mediators."

I frowned. "Do you think that's necessary?"

Jeanne Ellen spoke up then. "Steph, I think it's necessary. The Dick has proven to be duplicitous and manipulative, and I don't think it's a reach to believe he'd use your daughter against you. Please listen to Mr. Manoso's advice on this one."

I sighed. "You're probably right."

The next thirty minutes were spent reviewing our strategy moving forward. By the time meeting ended, my mind was a whirlpool of emotions, and I was wrung out.

We all went up to the fifth floor, and Mr. Manoso greeted his son and gave him one of those manly hugs with the back-patting. They spoke in Spanish briefly, then Ranger excused them both, and they left Tank's office. I brushed Zoë's curls away from her face, then smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead when she looked up at me.

"Hi, Zo-zo. Did you have fun with Ranger?" I asked.

"It was good. Mr. Ranger is a good draw-er."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Can I see your pictures?"

She showed me the pictures they had drawn, and I was proud that her coordination was improving. She rarely went outside the lines anymore, and I'd heard that that might be difficult for her as a leftie.

"Do you have work to do today, Steph?"

"No, I'm going to take Zoë home. I need to process everything. That's okay with you, right, Tank?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Steph, it's okay."

Jeanne Ellen said she would stay at Rangeman and research the new FTA files she picked up yesterday but hadn't researched yet. "I'll be home sometime around dinnertime. If you don't want to cook, I can bring something home."

I shook my head. "You've been teaching me things all week. I'd love to have the opportunity to cook something for the family."

She smiled brightly. "You'll do great, Steph. I'm sure whatever you decide to make will be wonderful. Maybe I can bring a dessert home with me?"

My eyes widened appreciatively. "I wouldn't say no to cake. I know you probably won't be able to find a pineapple upside-down cake, but any sort of birthday cake would be delicious."

Jeanne Ellen laughed. "I'll see what I can do."