Ethan closed his eyes.
I felt something collapse inside me.
“You knew.”
He stepped into the room.
“Claire, listen.”
“You knew.”
“It’s not what you think.”
I laughed.
The sound surprised even me.
“What do I think?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
“I think my husband forged my signature on a property document.”
“I did not forge it.”
“Then who did?”
Silence.
I looked at Diane.
Then back at him.
“Who did?”
Ethan finally said it.
“My mother signed it.”
The room became completely still.
PART 4
I stared at Diane.
She looked at the floor.
“You signed my name?”
“It was just temporary.”
I almost could not understand the sentence.
“What?”
“We needed the paperwork submitted.”
“We?”
Ethan rubbed his face.
“Claire, please.”
I pointed at him.
“Do not say please.”
He stopped.
“Do not use that word like you are the reasonable person here.”
Emma cried upstairs.
My entire body went cold.
I looked toward the ceiling.
Then at Ethan.
“You woke her.”
“I’ll get her.”
“No.”
I blocked him.
“You stay right there.”
I went upstairs.
Emma sat on the bed.
She held her bunny.
“Mommy?”
“I’m here.”
“Is Daddy mad?”
“No.”
That answer came automatically.
Then I corrected myself.
“Daddy and Grandma are having an adult problem.”
She sniffled.
“Are you mad?”
“Yes.”
She looked scared.
I softened my voice.
“But not at you.”
I tucked the blanket around her.
“You are safe.”
She nodded.
I stayed until her eyes closed again.
Then I returned downstairs.
Ethan and Diane had moved into the kitchen.
The papers remained in my hand.
I opened my phone.
I turned on audio recording.
Then I placed it on the counter.
“Start talking.”
Ethan noticed the phone.
“You’re recording this?”
“Yes.”
He laughed nervously.
“You’re unbelievable.”
I stared at him.
“Leave.”
“What?”
“If you don’t want to speak while being recorded, leave my home.”
Diane whispered.
“Ethan.”
He sat down.
I remained standing.
“What is this document?”
He looked away.
“It was supposed to add me to the deed.”
“I can read that.”
I tapped the page.
“Why?”
“Because I live here.”
“That is not an answer.”
“We’re married.”
“That is still not an answer.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I wanted security.”
“Security from what?”
“You.”
I stared at him.
