Chapter 2 · Payback's A Billion-Dollar Blessing

Chapter 2

I opened the closet. It was crammed full, mostly hand-me-downs from David and Karen, cut down to fit me.

"You're a housewife," they always said. "Who are you dressing up for?"

I only had a handful of clothes that were actually mine.

I pulled out the biggest suitcase I could find and started packing my things, one by one.

My diploma, some old jewelry from my parents, and a few textbooks I actually liked. The rest, I left untouched.

I didn't bother with those cheap pajamas Karen picked out for me.

I didn'teven look at the bags David tossed my way now and then, like throwing scraps to a dog.

Everything in this house made me feel sick.

Halfway through packing, someone knocked on the door. It was David. "Emma, open up. Let's talk."

I ignored him.

"Don't do anything crazy. My mom's got a temper. She doesn't really want you gone."

I paused, finding it all so ridiculous.

She didn't want me gone? Then what the hell were those signed papers? Confetti?

I heard him say, "Emma, I know you're hurt. I know Lisa pushed too far. But she's my sister. I can't turn my back on her.

"We'll figure out the money. Don't let pride wreck everything."

I zipped my suitcase, walked to the door, and opened it.

David stood there, all anxious. "Emma—"

"The keys," I cut him off.

He was stunned. "What?"

"Karen said I've got twenty-four hours. Hand over the keys and go."

My calm threw him completely. "You're really doing this?"

"I signed the papers, David Brown. We're done."

He flinched as if I'd hit him. His face went pale.

Five years together, and I'd never called him like that.

"I thought you'd bend a little. I never thought we'd actually..." His voice cracked.

"Bend? What was I supposed to do? Sell my parents' last piece of land so Lisa could buy herself a husband, then get on my knees and beg you to let me stay?"

My voice stayed level, but every word came out like ice.

"David, three years ago, you promised you'd take care of me. Said I'd never have to hurt again.

"Look at these three years. I suffered more than I deserve.

"Where were you when your mother tore me down, piece by piece?

"Where were you when Lisa took whatever she wanted?

"Where were you on our anniversary, when you stayed out drinking with your boys until midnight?"

I looked him dead in the eye. "I was here. Keeping your dinner warm."

David's mouth moved, but nothing came out.

"Keys," I said again.

His hands shook as he fumbled in his pocket, pulled them out, and handed them over.

I took them and slipped them into the outside pocket of my suitcase.

"I'll be out by noon tomorrow. Tell them to leave me alone until then."

I closed the door. This time, silence finally settled outside.

I leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor. The tears finally came.

Not for him. For me. For the five years I'd never get back.

I pulled out my phone and started making a plan.

First things first, I needed a place to crash.

I booked a suite at a five-star downtown hotel for a week to start.

Second, I would claim the money.

I checked the lottery center's hours and what I'd need. I needed my ID and a bank account.

After I moved out tomorrow, I'd go there in the afternoon.

Third, I would plan the future.

I would get 1.5 million dollars, and after taxes, that was still 1.2 million dollars.

I'd buy a small place in the city. Open my own accounting firm. Put my degree to work for once.

No more kitchen. No more scrubbing someone else's floors.

By the time I'd finished, dawn was breaking. I hadn't slept a wink, but I wasn't tired.

*****

The next morning, I packed the last of it.

One suitcase. One backpack. Three years married into the Browns, and this was all I had to show.

I looked around the room I'd called home for three years.

Our wedding photo was still hanging on the wall, both of us grinning like idiots. Looking at it now, it felt so fake.

I walked over, took the photo down, and set it face down on the table.

At 11:50, I pulled my suitcase and walked out of the room.

In the living room, Karen and Lisa were planted on the couch, watching TV. David was nowhere.

Some soap opera played on the screen, mother-in-law screaming at her daughter-in-law, the whole miserable cliché.

Chapter 2

I opened the closet. It was crammed full, mostly hand-me-downs from David and Karen, cut down to fit me.

"You're a housewife," they always said. "Who are you dressing up for?"

I only had a handful of clothes that were actually mine.

I pulled out the biggest suitcase I could find and started packing my things, one by one.

My diploma, some old jewelry from my parents, and a few textbooks I actually liked. The rest, I left untouched.

I didn't bother with those cheap pajamas Karen picked out for me.

I didn'teven look at the bags David tossed my way now and then, like throwing scraps to a dog.

Everything in this house made me feel sick.

Halfway through packing, someone knocked on the door. It was David. "Emma, open up. Let's talk."

I ignored him.

"Don't do anything crazy. My mom's got a temper. She doesn't really want you gone."

I paused, finding it all so ridiculous.

She didn't want me gone? Then what the hell were those signed papers? Confetti?

I heard him say, "Emma, I know you're hurt. I know Lisa pushed too far. But she's my sister. I can't turn my back on her.

"We'll figure out the money. Don't let pride wreck everything."

I zipped my suitcase, walked to the door, and opened it.

David stood there, all anxious. "Emma—"

"The keys," I cut him off.

He was stunned. "What?"

"Karen said I've got twenty-four hours. Hand over the keys and go."

My calm threw him completely. "You're really doing this?"

"I signed the papers, David Brown. We're done."

He flinched as if I'd hit him. His face went pale.

Five years together, and I'd never called him like that.

"I thought you'd bend a little. I never thought we'd actually..." His voice cracked.

"Bend? What was I supposed to do? Sell my parents' last piece of land so Lisa could buy herself a husband, then get on my knees and beg you to let me stay?"

My voice stayed level, but every word came out like ice.

"David, three years ago, you promised you'd take care of me. Said I'd never have to hurt again.

"Look at these three years. I suffered more than I deserve.

"Where were you when your mother tore me down, piece by piece?

"Where were you when Lisa took whatever she wanted?

"Where were you on our anniversary, when you stayed out drinking with your boys until midnight?"

I looked him dead in the eye. "I was here. Keeping your dinner warm."

David's mouth moved, but nothing came out.

"Keys," I said again.

His hands shook as he fumbled in his pocket, pulled them out, and handed them over.

I took them and slipped them into the outside pocket of my suitcase.

"I'll be out by noon tomorrow. Tell them to leave me alone until then."

I closed the door. This time, silence finally settled outside.

I leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor. The tears finally came.

Not for him. For me. For the five years I'd never get back.

I pulled out my phone and started making a plan.

First things first, I needed a place to crash.

I booked a suite at a five-star downtown hotel for a week to start.

Second, I would claim the money.

I checked the lottery center's hours and what I'd need. I needed my ID and a bank account.

After I moved out tomorrow, I'd go there in the afternoon.

Third, I would plan the future.

I would get 1.5 million dollars, and after taxes, that was still 1.2 million dollars.

I'd buy a small place in the city. Open my own accounting firm. Put my degree to work for once.

No more kitchen. No more scrubbing someone else's floors.

By the time I'd finished, dawn was breaking. I hadn't slept a wink, but I wasn't tired.

*****

The next morning, I packed the last of it.

One suitcase. One backpack. Three years married into the Browns, and this was all I had to show.

I looked around the room I'd called home for three years.

Our wedding photo was still hanging on the wall, both of us grinning like idiots. Looking at it now, it felt so fake.

I walked over, took the photo down, and set it face down on the table.

At 11:50, I pulled my suitcase and walked out of the room.

In the living room, Karen and Lisa were planted on the couch, watching TV. David was nowhere.

Some soap opera played on the screen, mother-in-law screaming at her daughter-in-law, the whole miserable cliché.