“And you won’t give me anything!” Charisma wailed, like a petulant child who wanted another lollipop after throwing up the first two.
Shaundra’s voice was stern, censuring. “I had absolutely no childhood! I’ve done nothing but support this family since I became able to do so. I helped Mama put a roof over your heads, even before I met Nathanael, so don’t act as if all the effort, the only value I bring to this family, comes from me being married to a wealthy man.” The bitterness in her mouth tasted like old pennies. “Especially you, Charisma. You’ve always benefitted from my generosity. You’re my only full-blooded sibling, and I have given to you more than I’ve given to the others. You’re the last person who should call me selfish. And if I were you, I’d do some hard thinking about what I want out of life, rather than flitting from dumb idea to dumb idea like a brainless hummingbird. You’re officially cut off!”
A sound behind her made her turn around. It was Nathanael, his shoulders filling the doorway. He stood there with a swathe of light slicing him in two. His face brightly lit, serious and grave, and his lower half lost in shadows. She imagined briefly that he was a centaur, the darkness below disguising the animalistic side of himself.
She said into the phone, “I have to go, Rizza.”
“We’re not done talking!” Charisma protested.
“Yes, we are.” She ended the call, feeling even more tired. She’d ended one difficult conversation—for now, but knew from the look on Nathanael’s face that she was about to start another. Would it be even worse?
“Sorry to interrupt.”
She thought,sure you are,but to her surprise saw genuine reluctance on his face. In tandem, they both glanced in the direction of the crib. Before Nathanael could ask his nightly questions, she answered. “He’s fine. He ate well, he had his bath, I read him a story, and now he’s asleep.” She’d taken up the habit of reading short toddler books to Benji every night, reasoning that even though he could hardly understand a word she said, it was a good habit to develop, and she looked forward to years of nightly bedtime stories. Mommy and baby time.
Nathanael nodded and stepped deeper into the room. Another man would have beaten around the bush, hemmed and hawed a bit, but Nathanael announced directly, “I’m going to visit my mother in a few days.”
She knew her shock registered on her face. “Back in the States? In Paradiso Falls?”
He nodded.
“Why? Has something happened?” Nathanael hadn’t spoken to his mom in years, and it was a subject so sore with him that early in their dating life she had brought it up one or two times and quickly learned not to ask again. She felt a tinge of dread. “Is she sick?”
“No.”
“Well?” she probed.
“I’ve decided I’ve been away for too long.” He threw up his hands in frustration. “I want you and Benjamin to come with me.”
She wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. Not only did he no longer speak to his mother, but she, Shaundra, had never met the woman. Their wedding had been small and impromptu, with just a few friends. Why was he suddenly so all fired up about her meeting the woman?
The suspicion must have shown on her face, because he said, “It’s important, I want you to meet her.”
“We’re heading for divorce, Nathanael. Our marriage is technically over, and as soon as I can swing it, it will be legally over. So why are you suddenly so determined to—”
“Let’s put it this way,” he said, so quietly that it frightened her. “If you consider our marriage over, I guess it is. And I can be a reasonable man. If you agree to come with me to visit my mother, I will not contest the divorce. You’ll get whatever it is you desire from the divorce. If you refuse, Shaundra, hear me well, I will use every tool at my disposal to fight you every step of the way.”
Shaundra felt like a fiddler crab being threatened by a sea monster, one with more power and reach than she could even imagine. He was more powerful than her. And she believed him. Every single word.
There was nothing for it but to give in. Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Give me a time and date,” she said softly, “and Benji and I will be packed and ready.”