Chapter 2 - The Dinner InvitationBy Wednesday, Summer had a plan.
She called her coworker Denise first.
Denise had worked beside her for six years.
She knew Andy.
She knew the financial situation.
And most importantly, she knew Summer wasn't the kind of woman who invented drama.
“Are you sure?” Denise asked.
“Yes.”
“You want me there because?”
“I need someone who will remember exactly what was said.”
Denise hesitated.
“Summer, what did you find?”
“I'll show you tomorrow.”
Then Summer called Marcus.
Marcus was the library's accounting coordinator.
He was good with numbers.
He also happened to be the person who had once helped Summer organize the household budget when Andy insisted she was “bad with money.”
The third witness was unexpected.
A neighbor named Mr. Greene.
He had lived across the street for eleven years.
He knew Andy's habit of coming home late.
He knew about the expensive cars.
And he had seen the delivery truck arrive two days earlier carrying the new rims.
Three witnesses.
One dinner.
One receipt.
Summer spent Thursday afternoon cooking.
She bought one inexpensive roast using money from her own savings.
She made mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread, and gravy.
It wasn't extravagant.
But it looked beautiful.
At six-thirty, Evelyn arrived.
She carried two suitcases.
Andy opened the door with a grin.
“Mom!”
He hugged her.
Then he looked toward the kitchen.
“See? I told you she could cook.”
Summer smiled.
“Welcome, Evelyn.”
Evelyn looked around.
“You've kept the place nice.”
“Thank you.”
Andy whispered:
“She spends too much time at home.”
Summer heard him.
She pretended she hadn't.
At seven, Denise arrived.
Then Marcus.
Then Mr. Greene.
Andy looked surprised.
“Why are all these people here?”
Summer smiled.
“I thought you wanted witnesses.”
He frowned.
“To what?”
“Dinner.”
His mother laughed.
“What a strange thing to say.”
Summer served everyone.
For several minutes, the conversation remained harmless.
Then Andy began complaining.
“Honestly, Mom, I've been trying to get Summer to manage money better.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Some women need to learn.”
Summer placed a plate in front of her.
“How much do you think we should spend on food each month?”
Evelyn shrugged.
“Not much.”
Andy smiled.
“Exactly.”
Summer looked at him.
“Seventy-five dollars?”
“Yes.”
“For everything?”
“Yes.”
Marcus stopped eating.
Denise looked at him.
Mr. Greene lowered his fork.
Evelyn frowned.
“Andy, did you say seventy-five?”
“Yes.”
“For the month?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn looked genuinely confused.
“But you told me—”
She stopped.
Andy suddenly became tense.
“Told you what?”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Nothing.”
Summer quietly placed the receipt on the table.
“Maybe we should talk about this instead.”
Andy looked down.
His face went pale.
“What is that?”
“You know.”
He picked it up.
His hands tightened.
“Where did you get this?”
“Your jacket.”
Silence.
Denise leaned forward.
“What does it say?”
Summer read it aloud.
“Thirty-seven thousand dollars.”
Evelyn looked at the receipt.
Then at Andy.
Then at Summer.
“Andy,” she whispered.
“Where did you get the rest of the money?”
Andy swallowed.
“I had savings.”
Summer shook her head.
“You didn't.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I manage our accounts.”
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“You told me you needed money for a business investment.”
Andy froze.
Summer looked at her.
“What business investment?”
Evelyn slowly lowered her fork.
“He said he needed forty thousand dollars.”
Summer's heart stopped.
“Forty thousand?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He told me it was for a professional certification and expansion project.”
Andy suddenly stood.
“Mom, stop.”
But Evelyn wasn't listening anymore.
She stared at the receipt.
Then she whispered:
“That bank account…”
“What about it?” Summer asked.
Evelyn's face went white.
“That was your father's account.”
The room went silent.
May you like
And Summer realized the $37,000 wasn't the real secret.
The real secret was the $40,000 behind it.
Related Stories
