Chapter 1
Before I could keep the news of my layoff under wraps, it had already reached my in-laws.
That night, they stormed in late, taking a cab straight to my place and barging into the living room without bothering to take off their shoes.
Linda Hayes, who was my mother-in-law, plopped down on the couch, crossing her legs. "No job? Great, let's get the divorce over with."
Richard Hayes, my father-in-law, smoking nearby, added slowly, "My son married you to live a normal life, not to take care of a freeloader."
My husband, Michael Hayes, stood behind them, head down, silent, like a puppet on strings.
I didn't cry or make a scene. I didn't say a word. I turned around, went into the room, and printed out the divorce settlement.
Early the next morning, we were already at the court.
We divorced. No fuss, like that.
As soon as I stepped out of the court, my phone started buzzing nonstop.
It was Richard calling, his voice urgent and a little too eager. "Anna, don't leave yet. Dad needs to ask you something. How much did you get for your severance pay?"
Hearing him on the line, I laughed.
*****
At ten in the morning, the HR Director slid a termination notice across the desk to Anna. "The Corporation is merging, and your product line is being cut. Your position is being eliminated."
Anna glanced at the first page, then looked up. "How is the severance calculated?"
"Nine years on the job, so it's by the negotiated terms. We'll also settle your unused vacation days, bonuses, and any deferred incentives."
"The exact amount's on the last page, but the company wants it to stay private," he added after a pause.
Anna flipped to the last page, her eyes lingering for a few seconds before she closed the file.
This wasn't exactly a surprise.
Over the past two months, the company had axed three departments in a row, and the project she was in charge of had been shut down by the new management.
But she hadn't expected to be let go the very day after the project was delivered.
Her direct supervisor, Charles Lane, walked her to the elevator.
He said, "One of our business partners is building a new team next week. I've already sent your profile over.
"They're offering a consultant contract. The pay should be at least as good as what you're getting now, but it still has to be signed off by the board."
Anna nodded. "Thanks. I'm going to take a break for a few days."
She carried the box downstairs, shoving her employee badge to the bottom of the box.
Her phone buzzed.
Michael texted her. [What do you want for dinner tonight?]
Anna texted back. [I got laid off. We'll talk when I get home.]
Michael called her right away. "Seriously? They actually let you go?"
"Yeah," Anna replied.
"Did they give you any severance pay?"
Anna stood by the curb, staring at the envelope in her hand. "Yeah."
"How much?"
"It hasn't come through yet."
Michael was quiet for a moment and said, "Don't tell my parents yet. They have got enough on their plate with the store right now."
Anna nodded. "Alright."
They'd been married for four years, no kids, and their mortgage was 4,000 dollars a month.
Anna pulled in a solid income. She was the one paying the mortgage and picking up most of the bills.
Michael wasn't exactly broke, but his parents' Hayes Hardware had been losing money for the past two years. So every month, he had to chip in to cover their losses.
Anna had her own frustrations about it.
But whenever she mentioned it, Michael always insisted his parents were getting old, and he couldn't abandon them.
She didn't want to argue over money, so eventually, the topic vanished from their conversations.
*****
At five in the afternoon, Anna got home.
She dropped the box in the study, fired up her laptop, and reached out to a few former clients.
The opportunity Charles mentioned wasn't set in stone yet, so she needed to make sure she had a backup plan.
At six-thirty, Michael came home, carrying two hamburgers.
He put the food on the table and took a seat across from Anna. "Let's skip cooking tonight. So, what did the company say?"
Anna handed him the termination agreement.
Michael only glanced at the first two pages. "When's your last day?"
"Today," Anna replied.
"What about health insurance?"
"It's covered until the end of the month."
"Did they not calculate your severance yet?"
Anna looked at him. "Why do you keep asking about the severance?"
Michael avoided her gaze. "I'm worried about the mortgage."
"There's still six months' worth of payments in the mortgage account."
"Still, we should start planning ahead."
Anna didn't say anything else.
Halfway through dinner, Michael's phone buzzed a few times in quick succession.
He glanced at it, then quickly set it face down on the table.
Anna's phone buzzed right after.
On the family group chat, Linda dropped a message. [Anna, I heard you lost your job?]
Richard chimed in right after. [Why are you keeping something this big from the family?]
Anna looked up. "Did you tell them?"
"I mentioned it to my mom," Michael frowned. "They're worried about you."