Chapter 7 - Four Months Before The Affair
Paige’s voice sounded younger.
Lighter.
Almost playful.
Grant, stop pretending you don’t know she thinks she settled.
I paused the recording.
Nathan sat beside me silently.
Then I continued.
You complain about her constantly. She complains about you constantly. Maybe you two are just scared to admit you’re done.
Grant replied in another clip.
Erin doesn’t complain about me to you.
Paige laughed.
You’d be surprised.
My chest tightened.
Because I had complained sometimes.
Normal marriage complaints.
He leaves dishes everywhere.
He works too late.
He forgot the pediatrician appointment.
Things sisters say.
Paige had repackaged them as evidence that my marriage was failing.
Another message:
Grant:
I love my wife.
Paige:
Then why do you sound miserable every time you call me?
Nathan stopped the audio.
“She was already working on him.”
I nodded.
But something else bothered me.
“Why was Grant calling her that much?”
Nathan looked at me.
Exactly.
Paige did not create every opportunity.
Grant had opened doors.
He chose to keep calling.
Chose to confide.
Chose to flirt.
Chose eventually to cross the line.
The truth was becoming more complicated without becoming less clear.
Paige manipulated him.
Grant cooperated because her version fed something he wanted.
Permission.
That afternoon Mom came to my house.
I nearly didn’t let her inside.
She stood on the porch holding her purse like armor.
“I talked to Paige.”
“I assumed.”
“She says you’re digging through ancient messages to destroy her.”
“I’m reading my divorce file.”
Mom sighed.
“Erin, what good does this do now?”
I looked at her.
“My daughter was publicly told her father left because of her.”
Mom’s face softened.
“I know that was awful.”
“No. Don’t soften it.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That Paige did it.”
Mom looked away.
There it was.
The family reflex.
Reduce.
Balance.
Move on.
I opened the door wider.
“Mom, I’m not asking you to stop loving Paige.”
She looked at me.
“I’m asking you to stop requiring me to absorb her behavior so you don’t have to feel divided.”
Mom started crying.
I didn’t.
May you like
Not because I felt nothing.
Because I had cried for everyone else long enough.
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