Chapter 7: The Secret Apartment
For several seconds, I couldn't process what Dad had said.
"Leave with someone?""
Dad nodded slowly.
"That's what the bank record suggests.""
Tyler looked horrified.
"Mom wouldn't do that.""
Dad turned toward him.
"Your mother has already taken thirty-eight thousand dollars from Emma, hidden twenty-six thousand dollars in debt, put our house up as collateral, and transferred another five thousand dollars into an account under her own name.""
He held up the phone.
"Tell me what I'm supposed to believe.""
Tyler said nothing.
I stared at the transaction.
*For the house deposit.*
The words seemed to burn into the screen.
"Maybe there's another explanation," I whispered.
Dad looked at me.
"Maybe.""
Then he started the truck.
"There's only one way to find out.""
We drove home in silence.
Laura was sitting at the kitchen table when we entered.
She looked exhausted.
Her makeup was streaked from crying.
The moment she saw Tyler, she stood.
"Where were you?""
Tyler didn't answer.
Dad placed his phone on the table.
Laura looked at the screen.
Her face went white.
"David...""
"Who is Michael?""
She stopped breathing.
I looked at Dad.
"Who's Michael?""
Laura's eyes closed.
Tyler whispered, "Mom?""
Dad pulled out a chair.
"Sit down.""
Laura sat.
Her hands were shaking.
"How long?"" Dad asked.
She stared at him.
"How long what?""
"How long have you been planning to leave?""
Laura started crying.
"I wasn't.""
"Then explain the five thousand dollars.""
"I can.""
"Explain it.""
She looked at me.
Then at Tyler.
Finally, she whispered, "Michael is someone I know.""
Dad laughed bitterly.
"That's convenient.""
"He's an old friend.""
"An old friend who helped you find an apartment?""
Laura's eyes widened.
"How did you—"
Dad held up his phone.
"The bank gave me the account information.""
She covered her face.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
"I don't know.""
"After you disappeared?""
Laura shook her head.
"No.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Then tell us now.""
Laura slowly lowered her hands.
"I thought our marriage was over.""
Dad looked genuinely stunned.
"You thought our marriage was over?""
"You were always working. You were always tired. You cared about Emma. You cared about everything except me.""
I stared at her.
"So you stole my money?""
Laura looked at me.
"I was desperate.""
"That's not an answer.""
She began crying again.
"I was scared.""
Dad's voice was flat.
"You were planning to take money and leave.""
"I wasn't going to take everything.""
"Only what you'd already taken?""
She flinched.
Tyler stood.
"Mom, stop.""
Laura looked at him.
"You don't understand.""
"I understand enough.""
Tyler's voice cracked.
"You told me the car would fix everything.""
Laura covered her mouth.
Tyler continued.
"You told me Dad would never find out.""
Dad looked at him.
"What else did she tell you?""
Tyler hesitated.
"She said she'd move us somewhere else.""
"Us?""
Tyler nodded.
"She said we'd get an apartment.""
Dad turned toward Laura.
"With my money.""
Laura whispered, "I was going to pay you back.""
Dad stared at her.
"By selling my house?""
"No.""
"The house deposit was five thousand dollars.""
"It's refundable.""
"That's not the point.""
Laura stood suddenly.
"I was going to leave because I was miserable!""
Dad didn't move.
"You were miserable, so you destroyed Emma's future?""
"I made mistakes.""
"You made choices.""
Her face twisted.
"I loved you.""
Dad's eyes hardened.
"Then you should have told me the truth.""
Silence.
Then Laura looked at me.
"I'm sorry.""
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"You keep saying that.""
"I mean it.""
"Then why did you do it?""
She couldn't answer.
Dad walked toward the stairs.
Laura followed him.
"David, please.""
He stopped.
"Where are you going?""
"To pack a bag.""
Her face collapsed.
"You can't just throw me out.""
Dad turned around.
"I'm not throwing you out.""
He paused.
"You chose to leave.""
Laura grabbed his sleeve.
"I don't have anywhere to go.""
Dad gently pulled his arm away.
"Michael does.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Please don't.""
Dad walked upstairs.
I stayed behind.
Laura sat at the table, sobbing.
Tyler stood beside her.
For the first time, he looked angry with her instead of afraid.
"You lied to everyone.""
Laura looked up.
"I was trying to save you.""
"You were trying to save yourself.""
That sentence silenced her.
Later that evening, Dad came downstairs carrying a folder.
He placed it on the table.
"These are the house documents.""
Laura looked at him.
"What are you doing?""
"I'm protecting the property.""
"From me?""
"From anyone.""
He handed me another envelope.
"Your account is being frozen tonight.""
I looked at him.
"What happens to my money?""
"We're going to recover every dollar we can.""
Laura suddenly stood.
"David, please. Don't call the police.""
Dad looked at her.
"I haven't decided what I'm doing yet.""
She began crying harder.
"I'll fix it.""
"You've had a year.""
"I can fix it.""
Dad's voice became cold.
"Then start.""
Laura stared at him.
"How?""
"Tell me the truth.""
She looked down.
"I already did.""
Dad shook his head.
"No.""
He opened the folder.
"Because I found something else.""
Laura's face changed.
Dad slid a photograph across the table.
It showed a small apartment building.
On the back was a handwritten date.
And beneath it, a sentence.
*"Move-in day — after David signs the refinance papers.""*
Dad looked at his wife.
"You weren't planning to leave.""
He tapped the photograph.
May you like
"You were planning to make me refinance the house first.""
Laura's silence was answer enough.
