Chapter 2

I forced a small smile and asked Odette:

“Does your Iona live in San Diego, too?”

“I've never met her. Stellan said she's in her forties and hasn't had much luck finding work, so he hired her to look after his mother and take care of the dogs.”

The student beside us asked curiously:

“Mrs. Rook, she must get paid well, right? The dog food alone costs three hundred dollars a month.”

Odette smiled.

“My mother-in-law handles her wages. I haven't asked about that.”

“Stellan only sends her the money for dog food. Three hundred a month.”

“But I thought that was too much. Dogs don't need steak, so I told him a hundred and fifty would be enough from now on.”

My chest tightened. I couldn't even catch my breath.

My allowance had been cut in half because this woman thought he was spending too much on the dogs.

She was still smiling.

“I wanted to learn bookkeeping myself and help him at the company.”

“But he wouldn't let me work. He said our family didn't need my salary.”

“I couldn't change his mind, so I had Romilly take the class. Once she gets her certificate, she'll handle the books at his company.”

“That way, she can keep me updated on the company's income and expenses.”

“That's why I think taking this class is a smart move.”

“At the very least, you'll understand your household finances. And if your husband's business takes off someday, you'll know more than just how much he sends you every month.”

“You have to understand the books to know what you actually have in your marriage.”

People around us began to clap.

“Mrs. Rook, you've really thought this through.”

“This is so much more useful than anything in the textbook.”

Even the substitute instructor took the opportunity to invite her to speak.

“Odette, would you be willing to tell us a little more?”

“Everyone's learning this because they want to manage their lives better.”

“Your experience might give them some ideas.”

Voices chimed in across the room.

“Yes, please! Tell us more!”

Odette looked around, as if she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

“All right. I'll share a few of my own thoughts.”

She'd barely begun when her phone rang.

“Sorry. I need to take this.”

She stayed in her seat and answered right beside me. A child's voice came through the speaker.

“Mom, where are you? Dad and I miss you.”

After the little girl spoke, I heard Stellan's voice.

“Honey, what time do you and Romilly get out of class? I'll bring our daughter along to pick you both up.”

It felt as if something had slammed into my chest.

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't get any air.

They even had a daughter together.

Those supposed business trips had been lies, too.

He hadn't stopped lying to me for a single day in all those years.

“Another half hour. You two be good and wait for me.”

Their voices alone told me how close they were as a family of three.

My seven-year-old daughter was delighted if she got to see her father once every three months.

Stellan always said he didn't have time for her.

Our daughter was nearsighted, and the optometrist recommended glasses. The portion insurance wouldn't cover was two hundred and fifty dollars.

He'd even tried to stop me from getting them, saying basic lenses weren't worth that much and the clinic was ripping us off.

Whenever our daughter asked why Daddy never came home, he always gave her the same answer.

“Daddy has to work hard so you and Mommy can have a good life.”

He'd already had that good life.

But the wife and daughter by his side weren't us anymore.