Her husband’s name appears on her phone or email infrequently now, but a small panic always rises when it does. What now. This time, he wants to let her know he’s taking a vacation to Mexico later this month, and that he’ll put an amount equal to the cost of that trip in checking for her to use as she wants. Their finances are still combined. They contribute equally. He has been, overall, as reasonable as he’s ever been about money, post-split. This doesn’t mean she’s not totally fearful of this changing at any moment. But this isn’t really the point.
When they were in couples therapy, and it came up that they hadn’t taken a real vacation together since their honeymoon, the fine therapist aka shitty therapist number one said something to the effect of Okay, you really need to plan a vacation. So they planned a vacation. Locations were considered and rejected. Mexico was chosen. Complications ensued. Dates didn’t work. Hotels were rejected. Maine was chosen. Deposits were made. Deposits were returned. No trip was taken. I’m going on vacation to Mexico lands in her email box. A kick to the head lands in her teeth.