Chapter 6 - THE SILENT DINNER
The weekend was a masterclass in psychological warfare.
Thomas was jubilant,
believing the house sale was moving forward.
He didn't know that the title company had called me on Friday afternoon,
confused by the "blank" signature on the deed transfer.
I had told them there was a technical error with my pen and that I would come in Monday to re-sign.
I had told them not to tell Thomas,
as I wanted to surprise him with a corrected version.
They had agreed,
sensing the tension in my voice.
Saturday night,
we went out to dinner at our favorite Italian place.
Thomas ordered the most expensive bottle of wine on the list.
“To new beginnings,”
he said,
raising his glass.
“To the truth,”
I countered,
clinking my glass against his.
He didn't even blink.
He talked about the trucks,
the warehouse,
the expansion.
He was so deep in his own lie that he had forgotten how to recognize reality.
I watched him,
feeling a strange sense of pity.
He was willing to throw away twenty-two years for a woman who would likely rob him the moment they landed in Belize.
“You’ve been quiet lately, Sue,”
he said,
leaning across the table.
“Everything okay at work?”
“Just thinking about the future,”
I said.
“I think I’m ready for a change.”
“That’s good,”
he said.
“Change is healthy.”
He had no idea how right he was.
On Sunday,
I went for a walk in the park.
I sat on a bench and watched the families playing.
I realized that I wasn't just losing a husband,
I was losing the version of myself that believed in "ordinary."
I was becoming someone harder,
someone who saw the world in terms of liability and risk.
I didn't like it,
but I accepted it.
It was the price of survival.
I received a text from Mark.
“The Nevada accounts are moving.”
“He’s consolidating everything into a single wire transfer for Friday.”
The day before the flight.
He was going to empty the tank and run.
I replied with one word.
“Proceed.”
The trap was set.
May you like
The bait was the house.
The hunter was the wife he had "trained" not to worry.
