Chapter 4: Her Share

On Tuesday night Colson told me he was staying late to finish a report.

I ate cereal for dinner and opened my laptop on the kitchen table.

The house fund lived in a savings account at our credit union, with both our names on it.

We had started it the week we signed the lease, with a plan to buy a place in three years.

I logged in and looked at the balance.

It was $51,300.

Then I opened the history and read every line from the beginning.

I had put in $52,800 over the years.

Colson had put in $13,200.

That made $66,000 in all, and I had paid for four-fifths of it.

I scrolled down to where the numbers started going the wrong way.

There was a withdrawal every month, always the same amount.

Every one went to Colson's personal checking account.

Over fourteen months they added up to $14,700.

Each one had a note typed in the memo line.

"Per diem float."

"Work travel."

"Trip deposit."

I added them twice on a napkin.

I did not cry.

I felt very calm.

The credit union let either of us move our own share out.

Eighty percent of what was left came to $41,040.

I typed the number into the transfer box and moved it to my private account, the one Colson didn't know existed.

I left him $10,260.

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