Chapter 6 - The Money Daniel Hid

Emily shoved the laptop toward him.

"You paid him to leave us alone? For what?"

Daniel stood.

"Keep your voice down. Noah's sleeping."

"Then explain quietly."

He paced once, then stopped.

"Marcus has been demanding money for months. He says Dad cheated him by leaving me the house. First it was five thousand. Then ten. Then he started saying he'd sue."

"So you gave him eighteen?"

"I wanted it finished."

Emily laughed in disbelief.

"You don't finish extortion by paying it. You teach the person that it works."

Daniel flinched.

She hated that part of herself that felt satisfied for landing the sentence.

Then she hated herself for feeling satisfied.

"Where did the money come from?" she asked.

Daniel said nothing.

Emily's anger sharpened.

"Daniel."

"My severance."

The room seemed to tilt.

"Your what?"

He looked down.

"I got laid off two months ago."

Emily stared at him.

Every morning, Daniel had left the house at seven-thirty wearing work clothes. Every evening, he had come home tired.

"Where have you been going?"

"A warehouse in Brookfield. Temporary shift work. I didn't want you worried."

"You lied to me every day."

"I was trying to keep everything normal."

"Normal for who?"

A small voice came from the hallway.

"Mommy?"

They both turned.

Noah stood there holding his blanket.

His lower lip trembled.

"Are you mad at Daddy?"

Emily immediately crouched.

"We're talking, baby."

"Loud talking."

Daniel knelt beside him. "You're right. Too loud. I'm sorry."

Noah looked between them.

"Family still best?"

Emily's anger broke open into pain.

She pulled him close.

"Yes. Always."

Noah looked at Daniel. "Daddy come hug."

Daniel did.

The three of them stayed on the hallway floor until Noah yawned against Emily's shoulder.

Later, after he was asleep again, Emily spoke more softly.

"I can handle bad news. I can't handle being locked out of my own marriage."

Daniel nodded.

"You're right."

"No more secrets."

"No more secrets."

At 2:17 a.m., Emily woke to a zipper sound.

She sat up.

Noah's bed was empty.

His little backpack was gone.

So were his red sneakers.

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