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She tapped her straw against the side of her glass. “That’s the strangest part of all this to me.”
“That’s what’s strange? Elena, you know me. I thought Roy and Mark did too. I haven’t done any of the things this woman has accused me of.”
“Except you did,” she said. “You went to her house to confront her. That was a bad idea. I understand the urge. But you walked into this mess.”
I couldn’t argue with her. That was the crux of it.
“And now he’s kicked you out of the house?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly. I needed to get away and clear my head.”
“It’s his house. You won’t have a claim to it if he files. Did you sign a prenup?”
I wanted to throw up. I had along with that blasted NDA. I suppose I hadn’t technically violated it. Not yet.
“I don’t care about his money.”
“That’s shortsighted. The trouble is, you’ve only been married for two years. But I don’t imagine Lock would want a long, drawn-out, scandalous process. Especially if he’s cheating on you.”
“Elena, I’m sorry. I appreciate your wisdom. I do. But I can’t even think about strategizing a divorce settlement. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I’m roadkill.”
“Understood. I’ll back off. It’s just… he is clearly thinking about this. He’s cut off access to your credit cards. Do you have any joint accounts with him?”
“What?”
“Mina, think.”
“No,” I said. “Our banking is separate. I have my salary from the county that goes into the checking account I’ve had since my parents died. He put my name on his credit cards. I cancelled whatever ones I had in my own name. Obviously, that was a mistake.”
“Well, I suppose the immediate issue is you need a place to stay. I can help with that. I have a rental at Breaker’s Cove. I’ve got a long-term booking coming in at the end of the month. But for the next ten days, it’s empty.”
She grabbed a napkin and wrote down an address and a number.
“That’s the code to the lockbox.”
“Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you.”
She threw two twenties on the table. “Just take care of yourself. Get a good night’s sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
She rose. “I drove,” I said. “I have to take you back.” A new horror occurred to me. My rental car. If my credit cards were cut off, I had no idea how long I’d have wheels.
She waved me off. “I’ve got a hair appointment across the street. I got a ride to work today. My car’s on the fritz. I’ll Uber home. I was planning to anyway.”
When I stood up, I hugged her. I don’t know if Elena believed me, but it didn’t seem to matter to her. She gave me the benefit of the doubt. I wished Mark and Roy could do the same.
Women believe women, I thought. I don’t know how many times I’d had that conversation with domestic violence victims.
Women believe women. Only Corrine Egan had been lying all along.
Elena’s rental was gorgeous. A two-bedroom, one bath right on the shoreline at Breaker’s Cove. She was probably charging several hundred a night for it. It had a washer and dryer, so at least I wouldn’t need a laundromat.
She had white wine stocked in the fridge, and I poured myself a glass. I lost track of time as I relaxed in front of the bay window. There were kids playing on the beach, their mothers keeping watchful eyes.
That’s what finally made me cry. Two weeks ago, Lock and I were trying to start our family. Now…
My phone buzzed and my heart jumped. It was Lock’s text tone. I dove for the phone on the coffee table in front of me. With shaking hands, I fumbled and nearly dropped my phone on the tile floor.
I opened the message.
