Chapter 6 - The Family That Chose a Side
By Sunday morning, Margaret had told the extended family that Clara had thrown her into the street.
Ethan’s phone filled with messages from aunts, cousins, and his younger sister, Allison.
Mom gave you twelve thousand dollars, and Clara repays her by taking away her grandchild?
Clara received a different version.
Margaret told relatives she had rushed over because Clara was refusing to feed Noah and sleeping all day.
Clara read the message while nursing him in Naomi’s guest room at three in the morning.
She had not slept longer than ninety minutes at a time since delivery.
At eight, Ethan arrived with coffee, clean clothes, and the breast-pump charger Clara had forgotten.
Naomi let him in but did not leave them alone.
“Did you correct your mother?” Clara asked.
“I told Allison what happened.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I’m not sending a family press release.”
“Then her story becomes the truth.”
Ethan set the coffee down.
“I’m trying to keep this from getting uglier.”
“It became ugly when she put her hands on me.”
He sat in the chair beside the bed.
“I know.”
“No. You saw it. Knowing means doing something that costs you.”
Ethan spent two hours with Noah. He changed him, held him through a nap, and washed bottles without being asked.
When he prepared to leave, Clara gave him a list.
She wanted full bank statements, the daycare cancellation, every email involving Margaret, and the household budget he had been managing alone.
Ethan looked at the paper.
“You’ve never asked to see the full budget before.”
“I trusted you.”
“You hated talking about money.”
That was true.
Clara’s father had lost their childhood home after hiding gambling debt. Financial conversations made her tense and defensive. When Ethan said he had it handled, she accepted the relief.
Her avoidance had not created his deception.
It had made the deception easier.
“I should’ve asked,” she said. “You still should’ve told me.”
Ethan folded the list.
“I’ll bring everything.”
That afternoon, Allison arrived at Naomi’s house without calling. She remained on the porch.
“My mother has nowhere to go.”
“She’s staying with you.”
“For three nights. My landlord doesn’t allow long-term guests.”
Clara looked through the screen door.
“Then help her find an apartment.”
“She gave you her savings.”
“No. She bought a position in my house.”
May you like
Allison’s expression changed, but she still said, “Ethan wouldn’t agree to that.”
Clara wished she could answer with certainty.
