Finally Rebecca spoke.
“You heard me.”
I looked at her.
“On the patio.”
For one moment, none of us moved.
Daniel turned toward his wife.
“What?”
Rebecca’s face had gone pale.
“She heard me talking to Claire.”
My heart beat faster.
Daniel looked between us.
“What did you say?”
Rebecca closed her eyes briefly.
Then she looked at me.
“That we couldn’t ask you to leave because you watched the kids, bought groceries, paid for things.”
Daniel stared at her.
“And?”
Her voice became very soft.
“And that it wasn’t really her we needed. It was her money.”
Daniel stood.
“Rebecca.”
“Sit down.”
I surprised all three of us.
He looked at me.
“I don’t need you defending me.”
“I’m not defending you.”
“I know. Sit anyway.”
Slowly, he did.
Rebecca pressed her hands together.
“I said it.”
“Yes.”
“It was terrible.”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“But there was more.”
I felt my body go still.
“What more?”
“I said, ‘That’s what it’s starting to feel like.’”
I frowned.
She continued.
“I wasn’t telling Claire that I wanted your money.”
Her voice shook slightly, but she remained composed.
“I was telling her I was worried that was what our family had become.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you.”
“You heard part of it.”
I searched my memory.
The patio door had been open slightly.
Rebecca’s voice.
We can’t ask her to leave. She watches the kids, buys groceries, and pays for things. It’s not really her we need. It’s her money.
I had walked away.
I had not stayed to hear another word.
“What did you say next?” I asked.
Rebecca answered immediately.
“I told Claire I hated that we depended on you so much.”
Daniel’s brow tightened.
“You never told me that.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Last spring. Twice.”
She looked at me again.
“I told Claire I thought we were taking advantage of you.”
My thoughts moved slowly.
“That isn’t what it sounded like.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
The same answer I had given Linda.
That realization unsettled me.
Rebecca continued.
“You paid for groceries even when I told you not to. Then I stopped telling you not to. You picked up the kids because it was easier. Then we stopped asking if you were available. You cooked because you were better at it. Then somehow dinner became your responsibility.”
