Chapter 6: Declined

I didn't take the pen.

I closed the folder and tucked it under my arm.

"I'll read it in bed," I said. "If it's what you say, I'll sign it at breakfast."

Brian's jaw worked.

Liam looked from him to me, waiting for his father to win.

"Fine," Brian said. "Breakfast."

I carried the folder upstairs and locked it in my jewelry box.

I read all twelve pages twice under the reading lamp.

Brian lay beside me with his back turned, pretending to sleep.

At one point he said, "Page three, Erin. That's all you need."

I turned off the lamp.

In the morning I made pancakes.

Brian asked for the folder.

"I spilled coffee on page four," I said. "I'll have the bank print a clean one."

"I'll do it," he snapped, and slammed out to his truck.

At nine sharp I was at the bank.

By nine forty, everything left in our joint account was in an account with only my name on it.

$61,000.

I cancelled the two credit cards that were on my line.

The ones the kids carried.

Sebastian texted me at ten.

Done?

Me: Done. $61,000. He took $40,000 on Saturday.

Sebastian: Then he left you $61,000 more than he meant to. Keep your phone on.

I went home and cleaned the kitchen until it shone.

Brian called at noon.

"The bank says our joint account is almost empty," he said. "What did you do?"

"The mortgage and the insurance come out on the first," I said.

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