Chapter 5 - THE MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Grant's mother arrived at eleven the following morning.
Diane Bennett had a remarkable ability to enter a room and make everyone inside it feel as though they had failed an inspection.
She looked at the baby blanket on the couch.
Then the toys beside Ivy's activity mat.
Then the dishes drying beside the sink.
“Goodness, Emily. You've certainly let things go.”
I looked around.
The house was clean.
There were simply signs that a baby lived in it.
“Ivy just finished playing.”
Diane sighed.
“When Grant was a baby, I still managed to keep the house presentable.”
I adjusted Ivy in my arms.
“I'm sure you worked very hard.”
She gave me a suspicious look, apparently disappointed that I hadn't agreed to argue.
Then she sat down.
“Grant tells me you're making things difficult.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Does he?”
“He says you spend your days complaining about being tired while he's trying to build a better future for his family.”
I looked at her.
“Did he mention Northline?”
Diane's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“So he told you about the company.”
“Yes.”
“Wonderful. I was beginning to think you didn't care about his ambitions anymore.”
I remained silent.
Diane continued.
“Elise has been very supportive. Grant says she understands the sacrifices required to build a successful business.”
The comparison was deliberate.
I wondered how long she had been making it.
“Do you know Elise well?”
Diane smiled.
“She's lovely. Very professional. And she doesn't constantly remind Grant that she's exhausted.”
I stared at my mother-in-law.
“Have you met her outside his office?”
“Of course.”
My heartbeat changed.
“When?”
“Several times.”
Diane seemed to realize she had said too much.
Then she waved a hand dismissively.
“Honestly, Emily, you shouldn't act so suspicious. It's unbecoming.”
I glanced at Ivy.
She was reaching for a soft fabric book.
My daughter didn't understand the conversation, but I hated that so much bitterness was filling the room around her.
“Diane, I'm not discussing my marriage with you.”
Her expression hardened.
“I'm Grant's mother.”
“And I'm Ivy's.”
For the first time, she had nothing immediate to say.
I stood and carried Ivy toward the stairs.
But before I reached them, Diane spoke again.
“You know, Grant told me you might be moving out.”
I stopped.
“He did?”
“He said the two of you were considering a separation.”
I turned slowly.
“When did he tell you that?”
“Last month.”
Last month.
Before our argument.
Before he told me to take the mess somewhere else.
Before I discovered the missing savings and the loan application.
Grant had been discussing our separation with his mother while I was still trying to repair our marriage.
I suddenly felt very calm.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Diane looked startled.
Then she tried to recover.
“I'm sure he was simply frustrated.”
“Perhaps.”
I carried Ivy upstairs.
Once she was settled, I called Ava.
We discussed the new information and the need to establish clear temporary financial and parenting arrangements if the separation proceeded.
Ava also confirmed that the bank's review was ongoing.
The fact that Elise's account uploaded the application was important, but we still needed the underlying authorization records before drawing conclusions about who had created the disputed signature.
After the call, I began preparing a bag for Ivy.
Diapers.
Formula.
Clothing.
Her favorite little stuffed rabbit.
I had decided to spend several days with my sister Sarah while Grant and I arranged separate living spaces.
It wasn't surrender.
It was a temporary decision made for my daughter's peace and my own ability to think.
Then my phone vibrated.
Sarah had sent me a photograph from social media.
A private dinner at a downtown restaurant.
Grant stood beside Elise with his arm around her waist.
Diane stood on Elise's other side.
All three were smiling.
The photograph had been posted three weeks earlier.
Underneath it, Diane had written:
So proud of these two and the future they're building together.
I stared at the photograph for a long time.
My husband and mother-in-law had been celebrating his future with another woman while I was home alone, feeding our daughter.
Then Sarah sent a second image.
This one came from the restaurant's public event gallery.
May you like
Grant was kissing Elise.
And the photograph was dated the evening he told me he was attending a mandatory company meeting.
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