Chapter 7: The Number That Didn't Add Up
I waited until my mom was settled with her tea and my brother had stepped outside to make a call before I said anything.
Lauren was sitting with both hands wrapped around her mug.
She looked wrung out.
I almost let it go.
Almost.
"The debt you paid off," I said.
"You said it was close to nine thousand by the time they came to collect."
Lauren looked up.
"You had five thousand from my mom.
You spent four hundred on the hotel.
That leaves forty-six hundred.
Which means you were still short by more than four thousand dollars."
She didn't answer immediately.
"Lauren.
Where did the rest come from?"
She set the mug down.
"I sold some things."
"What things?"
She hesitated.
"Jewelry.
Some of it was mine.
Some of it was—" She stopped.
"Some of it was what?"
She looked toward the back door.
My brother was still outside.
"Some of it was a bracelet Marcus gave me for our anniversary," she said.
"And a watch that was his grandfather's.
He kept it in the drawer in the office.
He never wore it.
I didn't think he'd notice."
The kitchen went quiet.
"Lauren."
"I know."
"Does he know?"
"No."
I sat back.
"You sold his grandfather's watch."
"I was desperate.
I didn't have a choice—"
"You had choices," I said.
"You chose not to take any of them.
You could have told Marcus.
You could have gone to a bank.
You could have told my mom the truth about what the money was for.
You made a different choice every single time."
Her eyes filled.
I noticed.
I didn't soften.
"That watch needs to be replaced or disclosed," I said.
"Tonight, before he comes back inside.
Because if he finds out from someone else, or finds out later, that is a different conversation than the one you've been having."
"He'll leave me," she whispered.
"I don't know what he'll do.
That's between you two.
But he deserves to know."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Took a breath.
The back door opened and my brother stepped in, phone in his pocket.
He looked at Lauren's face.
Then at mine.
"What happened?" he said.
Lauren looked at me one more time.
I didn't give her anything.
She turned to face her husband.
"There's one more thing," she said.
"And I need you to let me finish before you say anything."
My brother pulled out his chair and sat down.
May you like
"Okay," he said.
"I'm listening."
