Chapter 1
"Laura, let go. Don't make a scene in front of everyone."
Daniel was holding the car key, and I had a grip on his wrist.
Just a few minutes ago, he'd called a pregnant Megan over and announced that the new car in the driveway was a gift from us to her and the baby.
Today was my fortieth birthday.
I'd spent three years saving up to buy that car for myself.
"What did you just say?" I asked.
He glanced at my hand, his smile stiff.
"It'll make it easier for Megan to get to her prenatal appointments. Just let go first."
My mother-in-law, Carol, stood beside the cake with her phone raised.
Ryan had already come around the table and clapped Daniel on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Daniel. I knew I could count on you."
"Wait." I didn't let go. "That's my car."
The dining room fell silent.
Megan's outstretched hand froze in midair, then dropped back to rest on the slight curve of her belly.
"Daniel?"
My husband pulled my hand off his wrist.
"I'll talk to her."
He didn't give me the key back.
Just last night, I'd been in the kitchen going over the receipt for the car.
Some of that money had come from three Saturdays in a row spent sorting through old accounts for an auto repair shop. Some of it was overtime pay from staying late at the clinic to finish paperwork for my manager.
When the last payment from my side job came in, I texted my sister.
"I can finally drive out to see you this year."
She asked when I wanted to come.
I told her after my birthday.
The day I bought the car, I made a point of checking the trunk.
There was enough room for luggage and my weekly groceries.
The next time it rained, I wouldn't have to stand at the transfer stop waiting for another bus, holding an umbrella in one hand and a bag of milk and eggs in the other.
Daniel had offered to pick up the car for me.
"You have work on Friday. I'll take care of it."
He'd also ordered a cake and told me I wouldn't have to do a thing on my birthday.
Just last night, I'd told Natalie that he'd really put some thought into it this time.
During the first few years of our marriage, he used to go out of his way to pick me up from the clinic.
The moment I got in the car, he'd turn the heat vent toward me and take whatever I was carrying from my cold, red hands.
So when he told me to wear that green dress this morning, I thought he was taking me out to dinner.
Now he was gripping the spare key to my new car.
"Why didn't you ask me before you promised it to her?"
"Not here," he said, lowering his voice. "Let's go into the kitchen."
"You gave away the car right here."
Carol lowered her phone slightly.
"Laura, Megan's pregnant. Getting around isn't easy for her."
"I know. But I never agreed to give her my car."
Megan looked at her husband, Ryan. His smile had faded, though his hand was still resting on his brother's shoulder.
Daniel stepped half a step in front of me.
"Everyone's here today. Do you really have to do this?"
I looked at him.
"You said you were throwing me a birthday party."
"I am. I even ordered the cake."
"So I'm supposed to stand here and watch you give my birthday present to someone else?"
"I'll buy you another one later."
"When?"
He didn't answer. He just shifted the key to his other hand.
"Just let Megan have this one first."
I held out my hand, palm up.
"Give it back."
He frowned.
"Laura, she needs this car more than you do right now."
I held my hand out a little farther.
"Then give her your car."
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"I need my car for work."
"So do I."
He stared at me, his voice dropping.
"Don't you always take the bus?"