Vanessa scoffed.
“I said people deserved to know how hard I work.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Then why did you tell Ben I never help you?”
I knew Ben.
He’d been Ethan’s friend for years.
“Ben asked me why I was treating Vanessa like a maid,” Ethan said.
I stared at him.
Vanessa hadn’t merely threatened to embarrass him.
She had already started.
“What did you tell Ben?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why not?”
Ethan rubbed his eyes.
“Because I felt ridiculous. I thought I’d sound like a man complaining because his girlfriend wanted help with dinner.”
He looked toward the refrigerator.
“So I kept paying.”
Vanessa muttered, “Nobody made you.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“Every time I said I wanted to leave, you reminded me what you’d tell everyone.”
“Couples argue!”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“But I was afraid to break up with you.”
Margaret covered her mouth.
I looked at my son and suddenly understood why he had stopped calling as often.
He wasn’t simply embarrassed about money.
He was afraid no one would believe him.
“Is that why there’s no food?” I asked.
Ethan nodded.
“After rent and bills, I was short this week. I planned to shop on payday.”
“But you can cook.”
“I do sometimes. But whenever I use the groceries, Vanessa says I’m taking food she planned to prepare.”
He gave a miserable smile.
“Sometimes it’s easier to make toast.”
“Or?” I asked.
He hesitated.
“Or skip dinner.”
My heart sank.
My son was going hungry in an apartment he paid for.
I reached across the table.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His eyes filled.
“You were so proud when I moved out.”
“Ethan—”
“I kept telling you everything was great. After a while, I didn’t know how to admit it wasn’t.”
He looked ashamed.
“I thought you’d say I should’ve known better.”
I squeezed his hand.
“I wish you’d told me sooner. But I’m glad you’re telling me now.”
He nodded, wiping his eyes.
Then Margaret spoke.
“Vanessa, did you threaten him?”
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“I was angry.”
“Did you threaten to tell his coworkers he mistreated you if he left?”
“I wanted him to understand how much I do!”
Margaret looked at the ledger.
“By making him afraid of what you’d say?”
Vanessa’s face reddened.
“You’re supposed to be my mother.”
“I am.”
“Then why aren’t you defending me?”
Margaret’s voice remained calm.
“Because I need to understand what happened.”
Vanessa pointed at Ethan.
“He agreed to pay me!”
“He agreed to contribute to some meals,” Margaret replied. “That doesn’t mean he agreed to everything that followed.”
Vanessa turned toward me.
“Of course you’re taking his side.”
I looked at Ethan.
“I came here expecting to meet the woman he loves. Instead, I’ve learned he’s afraid to tell her he wants to leave.”
Vanessa stood.
“This is ridiculous. You’re all acting like I’m some monster.”
Ethan spoke quietly.
“I never called you that.”
“You invited both our mothers here to humiliate me!”
“I invited them because every time we argue alone, you tell me I’m selfish. Then you tell me nobody will believe my side.”
He looked at Margaret.
“I wanted someone to hear the whole conversation.”
Margaret folded her hands.
“Vanessa, I love you. Nothing will change that.”
Her daughter’s shoulders relaxed.
“But loving you doesn’t mean agreeing with you.”
Vanessa stared.
