Chapter 5 - Our Second Anniversary
Liam’s parents arrived first.
Elaine carried the cake. Richard brought a bottle of wine and congratulated me on surviving the newborn weeks with my sense of humor intact.
I smiled because I didn’t know how to answer that.
My mother came next, leaving Hailey with my aunt.
Elise stayed close enough that I could touch her shoulder if I needed to.
Dinner began almost normally.
Richard asked about Liam’s work.
Liam described a demanding new project.
Elaine asked whether Hailey was sleeping longer.
“Getting there,” I said.
Then she turned to her son.
“You must be exhausted with all those night feedings.”
My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
Liam laughed.
“We do what we have to.”
Across the table, Elise put down her glass.
I looked at my husband.
“What night feedings?”
His smile flickered.
“Nora.”
“I’m asking.”
He glanced toward his mother.
“I meant generally. Helping where I can.”
Elaine waved a hand.
“Don’t turn it into a competition. You’re both tired.”
I set my fork down carefully.
“That’s actually why I wanted everyone here.”
The room quieted.
Liam leaned back.
“Nora, whatever this is—”
“Please let me finish.”
I had practiced those words with Elise.
They still came out thinner than I wanted.
“On Tuesday, I called Liam to ask whether he would be home for dinner. He forgot to end the call.”
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“I heard him speaking to another woman. He told her he hated me. Then he promised to divorce me and marry her.”
Elaine inhaled sharply.
Richard looked at his son.
Liam shook his head.
“You misunderstood.”
“What did I misunderstand?”
“It was a conversation taken out of context.”
“Then explain the context.”
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
I placed a folder on the table.
“There’s a townhouse on Birch Lane. We’ve been paying toward it from our joint savings.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
“What townhouse?”
“A place Liam told another woman would be their home.”
“Nora,” Liam said, more sharply. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Elise spoke for the first time.
“She’s asking you to explain.”
Elaine looked distressed.
“We shouldn’t discuss private matters like this.”
“I agree they should have been private,” I said. “They should have been private conversations between a husband and wife. Instead, everyone at this table has been hearing that Liam is supporting us alone and taking care of Hailey every night.”
Liam pushed his chair back an inch.
“I never said every night.”
I looked at his mother.
She looked away.
There was a knock at the door.
He stared toward the hallway.
I stood.
“I invited someone else.”
Vivian waited on the porch.
No engagement ring.
No dramatic entrance.
She carried her own folder and looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
Richard rose when she came in.
“Who is this?”
“Vivian Cole,” she said. “Liam asked me to marry him.”
Elaine pressed a hand to her mouth.
Liam stood fully.
“You need to leave.”
Vivian looked at him.
“You told me Nora knew about us.”
He went still.
“You told me your marriage was over. You told me she was refusing to move out.”
Richard turned toward his son.
“Sit down.”
For the first time that evening, Liam obeyed someone.
Vivian remained near the doorway.
“I’m not here to argue with your family. I’m here because he has been using our different accounts of his life to explain where he was, what he needed, and why nobody should ask questions.”
She placed copies of several messages beside my folder.
Not intimate photographs.
Not pages of private humiliation.
Requests for money.
Promises about the house.
A message describing Hailey’s care.
Elaine read one.
Then she whispered, “Liam.”
I thought the worst had finally reached the room.
Then I took out the loan application.
“Did anyone here witness me sign this?”
Elaine’s face lost its color.
Richard looked at her.
“Elaine?”
She clasped her hands in her lap.
“He said you had already approved it.”
I stared at her.
“You witnessed my signature when I wasn’t there?”
Her eyes filled.
“He said it was only a formality.”
Liam reached across the table.
I moved the paper away.
May you like
“No,” I said.
It was the first word I had spoken all evening that did not shake.
