“You’re just going to walk away after destroying the entire night?”
“No.”
I picked up my handbag.
“I’m walking away after you revealed what was already broken.”
## CHAPTER SIX — THE CALL AT MIDNIGHT
Daniel called me at 12:18 a.m.
I was awake.
I had known he would call.
“Mom.”
His voice sounded different.
Smaller.
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
I sat up in bed.
“What happened?”
He was quiet for several seconds.
Then he said, “The patio isn’t the only thing.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course it wasn’t.
“What else?”
“She opened another credit line.”
“How much?”
“Forty-five thousand.”
“Daniel…”
“She said it was for the kitchen remodel.”
“Was it?”
“Some of it.”
I waited.
“The rest went on travel.”
“How much?”
“About eighteen thousand.”
“Anything else?”
Another silence.
Then:
“She borrowed against the brokerage account.”
I stood.
“How?”
“She had access.”
“You gave her access?”
“We’re married.”
That was not an answer.
“How much?”
“Seventy-two thousand.”
I sat back down.
Daniel began talking faster.
“She said she planned to replace it after her mother’s property sold. She said she was investing in us. She said I was overreacting.”
“Daniel.”
“I feel like an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.”
“I knew she spent money.”
“That isn’t the same as knowing this.”
“I ignored things.”
“Yes.”
He was silent.
I softened my voice.
“You did.”
“I ignored how she treated you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
The words mattered.
But they did not erase six years.
“I believe you’re sorry.”
“I should have stopped her tonight.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
He breathed out.
“I didn’t want to fight.”
“And now?”
A bitter laugh.
“Now we’ve been fighting for three hours.”
“What happened?”
“I told her I was freezing the accounts.”
“And?”
“She said I was financially abusing her.”
I closed my eyes.
“Did you threaten her?”
“No.”
“Did you prevent her from accessing money for normal expenses?”
“No. I told her I was stopping new charges until we figured out what happened.”
“Then protect yourself.”
He exhaled shakily.
“I may lose my job.”
“Call your company first thing tomorrow.”
“I’m terrified.”
