Chapter 7: The $6,500 Nobody Mentioned
For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the bank statement.
Michael's name was printed at the top.
The transaction was dated three weeks before our departure.
Six thousand five hundred dollars transferred to Vanessa.
I looked at her.
"Where did this money come from?""
She folded her arms.
"Ask your son.""
"I am asking you.""
Vanessa stepped into my room without waiting for an invitation.
"Michael told me he was contributing to the vacation. He said he wanted to make sure I had enough spending money and that we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about expenses.""
I looked at the statement again.
"Then why did you tell everyone I hadn't paid for anything?""
Her expression hardened.
"Because I didn't want people thinking we couldn't afford our own anniversary.""
I placed the statement on the desk.
"So you wanted people to believe you had paid for a twelve-thousand-dollar vacation while knowing I had actually booked it?""
She shrugged.
"Michael contributed.""
"Six thousand five hundred dollars?""
"Yes.""
I picked up my phone.
"Then let's ask Michael.""
Vanessa immediately reached for my wrist.
"Don't.""
I looked at her hand.
She released me.
"Why not?""
"Because you're going to turn this into something ugly.""
I called my son.
He answered after two rings.
"Mom?""
"Michael, can you come to my room?""
"Is something wrong?""
"Your wife is here. She has a bank statement showing that you transferred $6,500 to her three weeks before the trip.""
Silence.
Then he said, "I'll be there.""
Vanessa sat down.
She crossed one leg over the other and examined her manicure.
"You know, Carol, this is why I don't like discussing money with you.""
I looked at her.
"Because I ask questions?""
"Because you make everything sound like an accusation.""
"I haven't accused you of anything.""
She laughed.
"You don't have to. It's written all over your face.""
I said nothing.
A few minutes later, Michael arrived.
He looked at the statement.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Why did you bring that here?""
She stood.
"Because your mother thinks she's the only person who spent money on this vacation.""
Michael turned toward me.
"Mom, I can explain.""
"Please do.""
He sat down.
"The $6,500 came from my savings.""
"What savings?""
"The money I'd been putting aside for emergencies.""
I looked at him.
"Why did you transfer it to Vanessa?""
He hesitated.
"She wanted to use it for the trip.""
"For what?""
"Shopping, excursions, and other expenses.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"And the anniversary arrangements.""
Michael glanced at her.
"You told me you were keeping it for our expenses.""
"I was.""
"Then why is it gone?""
Her face changed.
"Michael, don't do this.""
He looked at me.
"She said she had already paid for some things.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"What things?""
She grabbed the statement.
"Why does it matter? It was our money.""
"Because you're telling me Michael contributed $6,500 toward a vacation I paid for, while you're also requesting another $18,000 from my card.""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"I never said I wanted eighteen thousand dollars in cash!""
"You requested authorization for eighteen thousand dollars in additional services.""
"Optional services!""
"With my card.""
She turned toward Michael.
"Are you seriously going to sit here and let her interrogate me?""
Michael looked exhausted.
"Vanessa, where did the $6,500 go?""
She stared at him.
"On our vacation.""
"Which expenses?""
"Things.""
"What things?""
She picked up her handbag.
"I can't believe this.""
Michael stood.
"No. Answer the question.""
It was the first time I'd heard him use that tone with her.
Vanessa froze.
Then she laughed.
"You want an itemized list? Fine. Some of it went toward my credit card.""
Michael blinked.
"Your credit card?""
"I had expenses.""
"What expenses?""
"Personal expenses. Before we left.""
He looked at her in disbelief.
"You told me that money was for Cabo.""
"It was for us.""
"That's not what you said.""
She folded her arms.
"Michael, I have a life outside this vacation. I don't have to explain every dollar I spend.""
I watched my son struggle with that answer.
Then he asked the question that changed the conversation.
"How much of it is left?""
Vanessa looked away.
"I don't know.""
"You don't know?""
"I'll check when we get home.""
"Why can't you check now?""
"Because I'm not doing this in front of your mother!""
Michael looked at me.
I understood immediately.
He wanted me to leave.
Not because he was protecting Vanessa.
Because he was finally trying to have a conversation with his wife without using me as a shield.
I picked up my handbag.
"I'm going downstairs.""
Michael nodded.
"Thanks, Mom.""
Vanessa didn't say anything.
Before leaving, I turned toward her.
"One thing, Vanessa.""
She looked at me.
"If Michael contributed $6,500, then he deserves to know exactly what happened to it. That's between the two of you. But don't use his contribution to justify charging additional expenses to my card.""
I walked out.
For the next hour, I sat near the resort's garden courtyard.
I ordered tea and watched families walk between the palm trees.
I thought about Michael as a little boy, carefully counting the money in his birthday card because he wanted to buy me flowers.
I wondered when money had become such a complicated language in our family.
At 8:40 p.m., Michael found me.
He looked devastated.
"Can we talk?""
I moved my handbag from the chair beside me.
"Of course.""
He sat down.
"I checked the account.""
"And?""
"Only $1,200 is left.""
I stared at him.
"Where did the rest go?""
He showed me a list on his phone.
Several credit card payments.
A luxury handbag.
A salon appointment.
Two restaurant bills.
A clothing store.
And a transfer to an account I didn't recognize.
I looked at him.
"Did she tell you about these?""
"No.""
"Have you asked her?""
"Yes.""
"What did she say?""
He swallowed.
"She said she was going to replace the money after payday.""
"Did you agree?""
"I thought she was telling the truth.""
I leaned back.
"Michael, why did you give her your emergency savings without asking what she planned to do with it?""
He stared at the ground.
"Because I trusted her.""
I softened my voice.
"Trust isn't the problem. You can trust someone and still ask reasonable questions.""
He nodded.
Then he looked up.
"Mom, I think there's another reason she wanted you to come.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
He hesitated.
"She told me something last week. She said the resort had offered us a discounted room, but she also wanted to make sure we had someone available to cover expenses if our cards didn't work.""
I stared at him.
"She wanted me here as financial backup?""
He nodded slowly.
"That's what I'm beginning to think.""
Before I could answer, Michael's phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa appeared.
*Vanessa:* Come upstairs. We need to discuss what happens when we get home.
Then another message arrived.
*Vanessa:* And don't tell your mother about the loan.
Michael went completely still.
I looked at him.
"What loan?""
He didn't answer.
I read the message again.
May you like
The loan.
Apparently, the $6,500 wasn't the only financial secret Vanessa had brought to Cabo.
