Chapter 6

"So you decided to show up," Barbara said, her voice cutting through the smoky air. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Were you planning to let us sit here and starve?"

"I was working late," I said, keeping my voice level. I stepped out of my shoes and carried the shopping bag into the bedroom.

"Working late? At that meaningless little job of yours?" Michael crushed his cigarette into the overflowing ashtray, his voice tight with irritation. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"It was on silent. I didn't hear it ring." I set the bag down in the closet and walked back out. "Have you eaten already?"

"If we had waited for you to cook, we would have passed out from hunger by now." Tina rolled her eyes without looking up from her phone. "I ordered takeout. Michael paid.

"But Rachel, we're splitting the cost. The total was fifty dollars. You can send me twenty-five."

"All right," I said, reaching for my phone.

"Hold on." Barbara straightened in her chair, her eyes traveling slowly over me from head to toe. "Rachel, is that a new outfit? Spending money again.

"Where did you get the money for that? Did Michael give it to you? Let's be clear about something. The two of you are splitting expenses now. His money belongs to him. Don't get any ideas about touching it."

"I bought it with my own salary," I said.

"Your salary? On what you earn, you can afford clothes like that?" Barbara shot Michael a suspicious glance. "Michael, have you been slipping her money behind my back?"

"I have not," Michael said, his annoyance flaring. His eyes narrowed at me, full of doubt and irritation. "Rachel, you went shopping for clothes?

"How much did you spend? Why are you suddenly so obsessed with your appearance? We are supposed to be saving for a larger house. You do remember that, don't you?"

"I remember," I said with a nod. "That's why I didn't touch your money. The money was mine, and I could spend it however I chose. You were the one who wanted us to split everything."

"You..." Michael's mouth opened and closed. His face went red.

"You have some nerve." Barbara slapped her palm against the coffee table and rose to her feet. "Rachel, how dare you speak to Michael that way?

"Has this family ever let you go hungry? Have we ever let you walk around in rags? You are ungrateful. You talk back constantly. And now you're out buying new clothes?

"I see exactly what's going on here. You're looking for trouble. Dressing up to chase after other men, aren't you?"

"Mom," Michael tried to stop Barbara, but there was no real weight behind it.

"Am I wrong?" Barbara's voice climbed higher. "You've been married for less than a week, and already you're parading around in new clothes, coming home at all hours.

"Who knows what you've been doing out there? Michael, you need to keep your wife on a short leash. Before you know it, she'll be making a fool of you, and you'll be raising another man's child."

Every word that came out of Barbara's mouth landed like something sharp and poisonous.

I stood where I was, not moving, watching them in silence.

I caught the flicker of doubt and embarrassment that crossed Michael's face.

I saw Barbara's features contorted with fury, expressing her outrage.

I noticed the satisfied little smile playing at the corner of Tina's mouth, delighted by the show.

Wonderful. The entire family, gathered under one roof, and not a single one of them behaving like a decent human being.

"Are you finished?" I waited until Barbara ran out of steam before I spoke.

She blinked, thrown off by the calm in my voice.

"If you are, I'll send Tina the money for my share of the takeout." I tapped the screen of my phone. "And Barbara, there are a few things I need to say."

I met her eyes directly. "First, I earn my own money, and I spend it as I see fit. That's not vanity. That's called being financially independent. It's what your son taught me.

"Second, I came home late because I was working. I have the time-stamped records to prove it. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to call the authorities and report me.

"Third," I paused and shifted my gaze to Michael, "if you're so worried about me running off or being unfaithful, perhaps you should be warning your son instead.

"A man who insists on splitting every expense down to the cent probably isn't very secure in himself. No wonder he's terrified his wife might leave."

"Rachel." Michael shot up from the couch, his eyes blazing. "What is wrong with you?"

"Am I wrong?" I echoed his own phrasing back at him, letting a faint smile cross my face. "Wasn't it you who said splitting everything fifty-fifty would make me independent?

"Wasn't that supposed to be for my own good, so I wouldn't take advantage of you? So what's the problem? Are you afraid that if I get too independent, I'll walk away?"

"You are unbelievable." Michael was trembling now, his finger jabbing toward the front door. "Get out of this house."

"This is my house too," I reminded him. "Your name is on the deed, but I have every legal right to be here. If you want me to leave, file for divorce. I'll walk out the door the same day."

"Divorce." Michael let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "That word again. It's the only thing you seem to know how to say."

He paced the length of the living room. "Listen to me, Rachel. You are my wife. You married into this family, and you don't get to walk away whenever you feel like it.

"Whatever plans you think you have, forget them. I will never agree to a divorce. Never."

"Michael, why are you wasting your breath arguing with her?" Barbara planted her hands on her hips. "A woman who doesn't appreciate what she has needs to be put in her place.

"From now on, she covers every bill and does every chore. Let's see if she still has spare money for shopping sprees or the energy to run her mouth."

"Yeah, Michael, I'm with Mom on this one." Tina's voice was sharp, pouring fuel on the flames.

Michael stood there breathing hard, his glare fixed on me with something close to hatred. "Did you hear that? Whatever my mother says, I stand behind it.

"From this point forward, you are paying for everything in this household. If you fail to manage that, don't bother coming home."

I nodded. "Fine."

I walked back to the bedroom, picked up my phone, and opened the voice recorder.

Then I returned to the living room and held the screen up so all three of them could see it. "Go ahead. Repeat what you said. I'm recording, so nobody can claim they forgot the details later."