Chương 12
Carol was still talking.
Daniel’s face changed.
“I’ll call you from work.”
He ended the call.
I waited.
He put my phone on the counter.
“What did you promise her?”
He looked toward Ethan.
“Not here.”
I didn’t like the answer.
But for once, it was appropriate.
I nodded.
After the children left for school, Daniel stood in the kitchen with his work bag over one shoulder.
“The condo isn’t just an investment.”
I said nothing.
“My mother bought it because she thought she might move back to Phoenix.”
“She didn’t.”
“No.”
“So?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“When she bought it, I told her I’d help cover the mortgage until she found a long-term tenant.”
“Two years ago.”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“She did find tenants.”
My stomach tightened.
“Then why were you still paying?”
He took a breath.
“Because she used the rent money for something else.”
“What?”
“My sister.”
I frowned.
Daniel’s younger sister, Rebecca, lived in Nevada.
We saw her maybe twice a year.
“She had debt.”
“What kind?”
“Credit cards.”
“How much?”
“About thirty thousand.”
I stared at him.
“And your mother decided to pay it?”
“Part of it.”
“With rent from the condo.”
“Yes.”
“So you covered the mortgage while the rental income went to Rebecca.”
He nodded.
“For two years.”
“Not exactly.”
“How long?”
“Seventeen months.”
I laughed once.
“I cannot believe that distinction mattered to you.”
“It didn’t.”
“It sounded like it did.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I’m trying to be accurate.”
“Start with honest.”
He flinched.
I almost regretted it.
Almost.
“How much total?”
He looked at me.
“What?”
“How much have you paid for your mother and sister?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“You should.”
“I can calculate it.”
“That is the problem.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“What is?”
“You keep using our household as the place where consequences disappear.”
He looked stunned.
I continued before he could answer.
“Your mother wants to subsidize Rebecca, so you absorb the condo payment.”
“Jason doesn’t want to be around us, so you create another place.”
“Melissa pushes for money, so you blame me.”
“The kids disrespect me, so I’m asked to be patient.”
“You get overwhelmed, so I become controlling.”
Daniel’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
I felt my own voice shaking now.
“All roads lead to me carrying something so somebody else doesn’t have to.”
He looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
That surprised him.
I swallowed.
“I think you are sorry.”
He met my eyes.
“That doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“I know.”
He nodded.
“I don’t know what to do about that.”
“For once, don’t do anything about my feelings.”
He stood very still.
“Deal with the facts.”
He adjusted the strap of his work bag.
“What facts?”
“Open your own account for expenses involving your children.”
“Okay.”
“Figure out the condo.”
“Okay.”
“Tell your mother the truth.”
He nodded.
“Tell Melissa the truth too.”
His face tightened.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
“That could turn into a custody fight.”
“Then maybe you should have thought about that before lying about finances and keeping a separate place where the kids stayed.”
He looked sick.
I hated that part of me wanted to comfort him.
I didn’t.
“And Daniel?”
He waited.
“If you tell anyone this is happening because I forced you, I’m done.”
He nodded slowly.
“I won’t.”
He left for work.
I stood alone in the kitchen.
The house felt different without Jason and Alyssa.
Not better.
Quieter.
There was a difference.
At eight forty, my phone buzzed.
A message from a number I didn’t recognize.
Hi Rachel, this is Rebecca.
Mom just called me.
I think there are some things about the condo Daniel hasn’t told you.
I stared at Rebecca’s message until the screen dimmed.
Then I tapped it awake and read the sentence again.
My first impulse was to call Daniel.
My second was to throw the phone across the kitchen.
Instead, I made coffee.
The machine gurgled too loudly in the quiet house.
I stood barefoot on the tile and watched the dark stream fill the mug.
When it finished, I took one sip and immediately burned my tongue.
It felt absurdly normal.
I carried the mug to the table and typed back.
What things?
Rebecca answered almost immediately.
Can I call you?
I looked at the clock.
Eight forty-three.
I had a meeting at nine thirty.
I typed yes.
The phone rang before I could set it down.
“Hi.”
Rebecca’s voice sounded smaller than I remembered.
We had never been close.
She was polite at holidays, funny after two glasses of wine, and always vaguely distracted by something on her phone.
“Hi.”
“I’m sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
That was becoming the family greeting.
“For what?”
“For getting involved.”
“You messaged me.”
“I know.”
She exhaled.
“Mom called screaming, and then Daniel texted me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said not to contact you.”
I almost laughed.
“Of course he did.”
“He said he was going to explain everything.”
“Did he tell you when?”
“No.”
“That sounds familiar.”
Rebecca was quiet.
In the background, I heard a dog barking and a cabinet closing.
“I don’t think he knows I know all of it,” she said.
I put the mug down.
“All of what?”
“The condo money.”
“He said your mother was using the rent to help pay your credit card debt.”
Rebecca made a sharp sound.
“What?”
I sat straighter.
“That’s what he told me this morning.”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“No, Rachel.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Did you have credit card debt?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“About thirty grand.”
“So that part is true.”
“Yes, but Mom didn’t pay it.”
I stared at the table.
“Who did?”
“I did.”
There was a pause.
“Mostly.”
“What does mostly mean?”
“My husband and I took out a personal loan.”
“I thought you were divorced.”
“We are now.”
Her voice flattened.
“The loan was before.”
May you like
I rubbed my forehead.
“Did your mother give you any money?”
