When I Cut Off the Payments, My Mama’s Boy Husband’s Family Panicked Chapter 09
It rained the day we went home.
Ethan Walker drove over to pick us up. He got out first and opened an umbrella. He carried Lily into the back seat, then put my suitcase in the trunk.
My father stood at the entrance of the building and looked at him.
“Remember what you signed.”
Ethan lowered his head.
“Dad, I remember.”
My mother stuffed an culated bag into my hands.
“Soup. Heat it up tonight.
I took it.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Olivia, don’t be afraid to bother us. If you need to come back, call me even in the middle of the night.”
I nodded.
When the car reached the apartment complex, Lily pressed herself to the window.
‘Mommy, that’s our building.
There was a small spark of excitement in her voice.
When we entered the apartment, the place was clean. So clean that it felt unfamiliar.
There was a small easel for Lily in the corner of the living room. A sheet of paper was taped to the fridge.
This month’s expense plan.
It listed everything: the mortgage, car loan, daycare, art class, living expenses, and an emergency medical fund. Each item had an amount and a responsible party.
Mortgage: Ethan Walker.
Car loan: Ethan Walker.
Lily’s art class: Ethan Walker.
I stood in front of the fridge and looked at it for a long time.
Ethan came out of the kitchen, his hands still wet.
“I made soup. It may not taste great.”
Lily ran into her room. After a while, she came out holding her stuffed rabbit.
“Mommy, my bed is still here.”
Ethan crouched down.
“Daddy won’t let anyone touch your room again.”
Lily looked at him.
“Not even Uncle Ryan?”
He froze for a moment.
“No one.”
Lily nodded, as if she had just confirmed a very important contract.
Ethan made dinner. The vegetables were overcooked, the soup was bland, and the rice was too firm.
Lily was kind enough to praise it.
“Daddy’s cooking is not bad.”
Ethan smiled.
“Thank you for the encouragement, Miss Lily.”
I lowered my head and drank the soup. It really was ordinary. But for the first time in six years, I sat at the dining table without worrying about the dishes afterward, tomorrow’s automatic withdrawals, or the minimum payment on my credit card.
After dinner, Ethan took the dishes away himself.
I sat on the sofa and opened my mobile banking app. There was already $3,000 in the shared household account. The memo was clear: this month’s household expenses.
There was also a $1,500 transfer. Memo: repayment installment one.
I took screenshots and saved them.
Not as memories. As proof.
After Lily fell asleep that night, Ethan stood at the bedroom door.
“Can I come in?”
I said yes.
He came in and stood far from the bed.
“My dad called me again today.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me to put my direct deposit back under his control. He said the family has no money for Ryan’s wedding reception.”
“What did you say?”
“I said Ryan’s wedding is Ryan’s responsibility. Parents can help if they can. If they can’t, they need to stay within their means.”
Nooked at him.
He continued, “My dad called me ungrateful. I hung up.”
That surprised me a little. He had never hung up on his father before.
Ethan lowered his head.
“I used to think that as long as my dad was satisfied with me, I was successful. Later I realized his satisfaction depended on you always cleaning up my mess.
I did not comfort him.
Adults only learn when it hurts a little.
He paused for a moment.
“Olivia, I’m sorry.”
He had said sorry many times. This time, I still did not respond.
He did not force me.
“I’ll keep doing the work.”
He turned and left, closing the door softly behind him.
I lay in bed and heard the dishwasher start in the kitchen.
He had loaded the dishwasher.
Six years too late.