Emma nodded.
“Okay.”
Then, after a moment, she whispered:
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Helena told me her mom has been scared of Dad.”
Laura’s hand stopped moving.
“Scared?”
Emma nodded.
“She said Dad called her a few times.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did he say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Helena told me not to.”
Laura felt a knot form in her stomach.
“Did she say why?”
Emma shook her head.
“She just said adults were making things difficult.”
Laura stared at her daughter.
The pieces were beginning to form a picture.
But she still couldn’t see the whole thing.
The Birthday Approaches
The week before Helena’s birthday, the tension grew.
Emma tried to pretend she didn’t care.
But Laura knew her daughter.
She saw the way Emma looked at photographs of the decorations Helena was posting.
She saw the way she stopped talking about the party.
She saw the invitation envelope sitting on Helena’s social media story while Emma watched silently.
On Friday evening, Emma came home with tears in her eyes.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Emma.”
She dropped her backpack.
“Helena asked me to come anyway.”
Laura froze.
“What did you say?”
“I said I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if her mom doesn’t want me there, I don’t want to cause trouble.”
Laura hugged her.
“You shouldn’t have to carry this.”
Emma cried against her shoulder.
“I just don’t understand.”
“I know.”
“Why does Dad hate Helena’s family?”
Laura closed her eyes.
That was the question she couldn’t answer.
A Second Conversation With Rachel
The following morning, Laura drove to Rachel’s house.
She didn’t tell Mark.
Rachel opened the door and immediately looked nervous.
“Laura.”
“I need the truth.”
Rachel stepped aside.
“Come in.”
They sat at the dining room table.
For several seconds, Rachel said nothing.
Then she looked at Laura.
“Mark told me you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That he was helping us.”
Laura frowned.
“Helping you with what?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears.
“My divorce.”
Laura said nothing.
Rachel continued.
“Two years ago, I was having trouble getting out of a business partnership with my former husband. Mark offered to help.”
“What kind of help?”
“Legal advice. Financial advice. Contacts.”
Laura’s stomach tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Mark told me you wouldn’t approve.”
“Why would I not approve?”
Rachel looked away.
“Because he said you were jealous of how much time he was spending helping me.”
Laura stared at her.
“I never knew he was helping you.”
“I know.”
Rachel’s voice became quieter.
“He told me you knew.”
Laura felt dizzy.
“What else did he tell you?”
Rachel hesitated.
“That your marriage was basically over.”
Laura stared at her.
“What?”
“He said you were staying together for Emma.”
Laura’s face went pale.
“That is not true.”
“I know that now.”
Rachel began crying.
“I believed him.”
Laura stood.