Chapter 4 - The Committee
I didn't argue in the car. I asked one question.
"How long have you been talking to your mother about me?"
Daniel kept his eyes on the road. "What does that mean?"
"She knew what I said about the nursery. She knew what I told you about visitors. Those were private conversations."
A long silence.
"She calls," he admitted. "She feels excluded. I try to make her feel better."
"By telling her every word I say?"
"You're reading too much into it."
"Did you tell her I didn't want her living with us?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell her I'd rather have Nora help me recover?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell her what I said about being afraid of complications?"
Daniel's grip shifted on the steering wheel.
"You told her that too?"
"I thought she'd understand."
I turned away before he could see me cry. We weren't having a marriage. We were holding committee meetings, and I hadn't been invited to half of them.
His phone buzzed in the cup holder. The screen lit up with LINDA.
Remember what we agreed. Don't let her change the plan.
He flipped it facedown too late.
"What plan?" I asked.
"She means dinner."
"We're not having dinner with her."
He swallowed. "Emily, please. We just got good news about the baby."
"We got lucky news."
He said nothing else.
When we turned onto our street, Linda's silver SUV was already in our driveway. Daniel slowed so suddenly that my seat belt tugged across my stomach.
"Why is she here?" I asked.
"Maybe she wanted to check on you."
Our front door opened before we reached the curb.
May you like
Linda stepped onto the porch, smiling. In her right hand was a shiny house key.
I had never given her one.
