Chapter 1

Our new neighbor, Wendy Brooks, had a thing for borrowing stuff.

It started with the big things like ladders and vacuum cleaners, but soon it was the little things, too, like salt or a splash of cooking oil. The problem was, she never brought anything back.

My husband, James Young, was a total pushover. Every time she knocked, he'd just hand over whatever she wanted.

When I tried to talk to him about it, he'd just tell me I was being petty.

"Wendy is all alone in this city," James said. "She doesn't have any family or friends nearby. As neighbors, the least we can do is help her out."

A few days later, I noticed a hair tie was missing from my jewelry box. I spent a long time tearing the house apart looking for it before James finally spoke up.

"Oh, Wendy borrowed that yesterday," he said casually.

I stared at him, frustrated. "Go get it back, James."

He waved me off. "If she likes it, just let her keep it. It's a hair tie, for God's sake. How much could it possibly be worth?"

I didn't argue. I didn't say another word.

The next evening, James's parents, Edith and Damari Young, were expected over for dinner. Then I heard that familiar knock at the door. I knew it was Wendy.

Before she could even open her mouth, I grabbed James by the arm and shoved him out onto the porch.

"Forget borrowing," I told her. "You can just have everything, including James."

James stumbled forward and almost bumped right into Wendy.

Once he steadied himself, James immediately turned to Wendy, concern in his voice. "Wendy, you okay? Didn't scare you, did I?"

After Wendy assured him she was fine, James gave me an annoyed look.

He said, "Camilla, what's gotten into you? Why are you acting so crazy for no reason?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

He knew I was a total clean freak, but he just kept lending out my stuff over and over.

And now he was even letting Wendy take things from my jewelry box.

I never used anything that someone else had touched, and I definitely wasn't going to keep a man who always took the side of others over me.

I said, "James, let's get a divorce."

"What did you just say?" James blurted out.

James was about to lose his temper, but Wendy tugged at his shirt, stopping him.

She glanced at me, her eyes a bit misty. "I just wanted to drop off some food, not to borrow anything.

"Camilla, if I'm bothering you, I won't come over anymore. Please don't say stuff like getting a divorce just because you're angry. I'll head out now, so I won't upset you anymore."

With that, she pressed the thermos into my hands and turned to leave.

James quickly reached out to stop her.

He said, "Wendy, it's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up over this."

Then he came over to me and whispered in my ear, "Let's talk about this in private later. For now, just apologize to Wendy."

I couldn't believe my ears.

"I should apologize?" I repeated.

James said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "She came over with chicken soup out of kindness, and you made her cry. Aren't you just biting the hand that feeds you?"

I knew exactly what he meant, and couldn't help but laugh at myself.

"Yeah, I'm just an ungrateful dog, aren't I?" I said.

"That's not what I meant. Don't twist my words," James said.

"Oh, am I twisting things, or did you just let slip what you really think?" I shot back. "You know the truth."

Noticing we hadn't come back for a while, James' parents stepped out to check on us.

James just pretended nothing had happened and told them the neighbor had brought over some food.

After several warm invitations from James' parents, Wendy unexpectedly ended up joining us for dinner.

Edith smiled at Wendy, "Wendy, you're always so sweet. Just look at this spread, but honestly, nothing beats your food."

Edith held Wendy's hand, chatting with her like they were family.

It stung, realizing that all the dishes I'd made couldn't hold a candle to Wendy's simple food.

Trying to get on Edith's good side, I even woke up early one morning to make dishes for her, even though I never cooked.

Fumbling around in the kitchen, I managed to burn myself, ending up with a bunch of nasty blisters.

James fussed over me, dabbing ointment on my burns and begging me to quit.

But I brushed it off. All I cared about was getting a word of praise from Edith.

But as soon as I turned around, she was gossiping with her friend: "Camilla is so tight-fisted. Claims her family's rich, but all she gave me was some lousy dish. So cheap, it's pathetic."

Word spread like wildfire.

By the end, I was branded as the neighborhood cheapskate, and that reputation just wouldn't fade.

Damari let out a rare, hearty laugh.

He said, "Wendy, you should drop by whenever you have time. You're always welcome at our place."

Wendy looked a bit uncomfortable. "I-I think I'd better not. It's because I keep borrowing stuff that Camilla and James ended up talking about divorce. Camilla, I won't come over anymore, so please don't bring up divorce because of me, alright?"

As she spoke, her eyes started to well up again.

With James' parents giving me those skeptical stares, I decided to lay it all out.

"I'm the one who asked for the divorce," I said.

Edith asked, unable to hold back, "Why? I thought you and James were always so close?"

"Over a hair tie," I said.

"A hair tie? What hair tie are you talking about?" Edith asked.

Just as I was about to explain, James banged his hand on the table.

His face was dark. "Why do you have to bring this up right when everyone's having a good time?

"You've been hung up on that hair tie since yesterday, and now you have to embarrass us in front of my parents? Maybe you don't care how you look, but I do."

Wendy was the one who started all this, but James, as always, found a way to blame me.

I felt like the family scapegoat. Everyone just wanted to pin the blame on me.

Edith snapped at James, "James, that's enough. Is that any way to talk to your wife?"

She turned to me. "Camilla, if you've been wronged, just tell us. Damari and I are reasonable people."

Then she switched gears. "Divorce isn't something you just toss around. I know you're usually sensible, so don't act on impulse."

She hadn't even bothered to hear the whole story, but it was like she'd already made up her mind about it.

Everyone wore a different expression. Some were resentful, some looked grave, and a few even had a defiant glint in their eyes.

I said calmly, "Yesterday, he handed my hair tie to someone else without even asking me first. That's the reason I'm asking for a divorce."

Everyone went quiet after that.

Wendy's sniffling suddenly shattered the silence.

She said, "It's all my fault. I didn't know the hair tie was such a big deal for you. If I had, I never would've asked to borrow it."

Seeing her about to cry, James hurriedly passed her a tissue.

He said, "Wendy, don't mind her. She's just making a fuss over nothing."

James' parents exchanged glances, and then Edith spoke up slowly. "I'm not trying to play favorites, but it's just a hair tie. It really doesn't sound like a big deal, so why make such a big scene about it?

"You usually spend a ton. Just one of your handbags could buy a truckload of hair ties. So why are you suddenly being so tight-fisted, counting every penny?"

Ever since we got married, Edith always said I was a big spender, but since it was my own money, she couldn't really make a fuss. Today, though, she finally got her chance to give me a piece of her mind.