Chapter 4 - VANESSA CAME TO MY HOUSE
Vanessa knocked on my front door two days before Christmas.
I knew it was her before I opened it.
Daniel’s car was not outside.
Neither was hers.
She stood on the porch wearing a cream coat, her blonde hair tucked behind one ear.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she said, “I’m not here to fight.”
I almost closed the door.
Then I remembered how she had looked at me in the mall.
Not surprised.
Not ashamed.
Prepared.
“What do you want?”
“To explain something.”
“You knew Daniel was married.”
“Yes.”
At least she did not insult me with another lie.
“How long?”
“Since the beginning.”
The beginning.
I tightened my grip on the door.
“And when exactly was that?”
“May.”
My stomach dropped.
Seven months.
Vanessa looked past me.
“Can I come inside?”
“No.”
She nodded as if she expected that.
Then she pulled an envelope from her purse.
“I think you need to see this.”
I did not take it.
“What is it?”
“Something Daniel gave me.”
“Why are you giving it to me now?”
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely uncomfortable.
“Because I’m starting to realize he may have lied to both of us.”
I laughed once.
“He told you we were separated.”
“Yes.”
“He lied.”
“I know that now.”
“You saw me in the mall and still held his arm.”
Her face reddened.
“He told me you knew about us.”
I stared at her.
“He said you had agreed to keep appearances through the holidays because of his parents.”
I almost admired Daniel’s efficiency.
Every person received a different version.
Every lie designed specifically for the listener.
Vanessa held out the envelope again.
Inside was a photocopy of what looked like a separation agreement.
My name appeared at the bottom.
So did a signature.
Mine.
Except I had never seen the document before.
The date was April 7.
According to the agreement, Daniel and I had mutually decided to separate our finances and live independently while remaining legally married temporarily.
I felt dizzy.
“He showed me that the first time I questioned him,” Vanessa said.
“This is forged.”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“That isn’t my signature.”
Vanessa stepped backward.
For several seconds, she simply stared at me.
Then she whispered, “Oh my God.”
“What else did he show you?”
“A realtor email. The condo. Messages from his father. He said you were selling the house after New Year’s.”
“We are not selling anything.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Did Daniel tell you he wanted to marry you?”
She looked at me.
“Yes.”
I expected pain.
Instead, I felt something colder.
Clarity.
“When?”
“By summer.”
I nodded.
Then Vanessa said something that made every other discovery suddenly look smaller.
“Emily, that’s not why I came.”
She opened her phone and showed me a message Daniel had sent her three weeks earlier.
Once Christmas is over, everything will be settled. Emily will sign the refinance, and then we can finally start over.
I looked up.
“What refinance?”
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
May you like
She swallowed.
“Daniel told me you already agreed to borrow against the house.”
