Chapter 2: Six Hundred Dollars
I didn't move.
Neither did Vanessa.
Claire looked like she wished the floor would open beneath her.
My mother quietly removed her apron.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “let's not do this tonight.””
But I couldn't take my eyes off Vanessa.
“You told them I didn't give you money?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“It wasn't like that.””
“How was it?””
“I said things because I was upset.””
“You told your friends I control you financially.””
“I said I felt financially trapped.””
“You had six hundred dollars this morning.””
“You know I have expenses.””
“So do I.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Do you want to have this conversation in front of everybody?””
“No,” I said.
“I want to know why you lied.””
Claire shifted uncomfortably.
One of the other women, Melissa, finally spoke.
“Vanessa, maybe we should leave.””
Vanessa glared at her.
“Seriously?””
“No,” Melissa said.
“This has gone too far.””
The woman beside her grabbed her purse.
Claire still hadn't moved.
I turned toward my mother.
“Mom, sit down.””
“I'm okay.””
“You're shaking.””
“I'm just tired.””
“Sit.””
She obeyed.
I pulled a chair out for her.
Then I turned back to Vanessa.
“Where's the six hundred dollars?””
She hesitated.
“In my bedroom.””
“Why?””
“Because I put it away.””
“For what?””
She laughed bitterly.
“What is this, an interrogation?””
I pulled out my phone.
“I'll answer your question after you answer mine.””
Her expression hardened.
“You're acting crazy.””
“Crazy?””
I pointed to Mom.
“She thinks she's in trouble because she's washing your dishes.””
My mother's eyes filled with tears.
That stopped me.
I crouched beside her.
“Mom, did Vanessa tell you to wash them?””
Mom hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“She said the other ladies were tired.””
I looked up at Vanessa.
“Unbelievable.””
Mom touched my arm.
“It's okay.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“No, Mom.””
She gave me a sad smile.
“You've always wanted to protect me.””
“Because you deserve to be protected.””
She shook her head.
“Your father used to say the same thing.””
The mention of Dad changed something in the room.
He had been gone six years.
He would have exploded if he had seen this.
My mother looked toward Vanessa.
“She isn't evil, Marcus.””
I couldn't believe she was defending her.
“She treated you like hired help.””
Mom looked down.
“She was embarrassed.””
“About what?””
Mom didn't answer.
Claire suddenly spoke.
“Vanessa was embarrassed because she told us her husband was going to stop supporting her.””
Vanessa spun around.
“Enough!””
Claire flinched.
I stood.
“Supporting you?””
Vanessa stared at me.
“You know what? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything to them.””
“No. You should have said something to me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Every time you come home exhausted, you don't listen.””
“So you lie?””
Her eyes glistened.
“You have no idea what it's like being married to someone who thinks money solves everything.””
I stared at her.
“You wanted six hundred dollars. I gave you six hundred dollars.””
“That isn't the point!””
“Then what is?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was the moment I realized this wasn't about a party.
It was about something deeper.
Something she had been hiding.
Claire looked at me.
“Marcus, there's more.””
Vanessa's face went white.
“Claire.””
“What more?”” I asked.
Claire took a breath.
“She told us you were planning to leave her.””
My chest tightened.
“I was?””
“She said you wanted a divorce.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She stared at the floor.
“Is that true?””
“I was scared.””
“Scared of what?””
“That you were going to abandon me.””
I felt like I was hearing the life of a stranger.
“Why would you think that?””
“Because you changed.””
“How?””
“You stopped talking to me.””
“I worked.””
“You stopped coming to bed at the same time.””
“I worked.””
“You stopped taking me out.””
“We're adults, Vanessa.””
“I needed to know you still wanted me.””
I closed my eyes.
There was a painful silence.
Then I remembered something.
Three weeks earlier, I had found a bank statement on our printer.
A withdrawal.
$2,400.
When I'd asked Vanessa, she'd said it was for a medical bill.
I'd believed her.
Now I looked at her.
“What was the $2,400?””
Her eyes widened.
“You remember that?””
“Yes.””
She looked away.
Claire whispered, “Vanessa…”
I waited.
Finally, Vanessa sat down.
“It wasn't a medical bill.””
“What was it?””
She swallowed.
“I paid someone.””
My blood went cold.
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Who did you pay?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“A private investigator.””
Nobody spoke.
“Why?””
“Because I thought you were cheating.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“You hired a private investigator to follow me?””
“I thought I had a reason.””
“What reason?””
She looked at Claire.
Then at my mother.
Then back at me.
“I found messages.””
“What messages?””
Vanessa's hands began to tremble.
“From another woman.””
May you like
The room went silent again.
This time, even my mother looked up.
