Chapter 5 - Who Paid for the Peace
Derek’s anger changed direction.
“You act superior because you have money.”
Laurel’s face remained still.
“What does money have to do with Caleb?”
“You think you own this family because you write checks.”
Mallory whispered, “Derek, stop.”
But the truth was already loose.
For years, Laurel had quietly covered family emergencies.
Elaine’s roof repair.
Mallory and Derek’s overdue property taxes.
A transmission replacement.
School tuition when Derek claimed a payroll error had delayed his bonus.
Laurel helped because Mallory asked privately and insisted Derek would feel humiliated if he knew.
He knew.
Bank records later showed that Mallory had transferred each payment into their joint account. Derek then told relatives he had handled the expenses himself.
The barbecue grill had been purchased with money Laurel sent after Derek claimed their old one was unsafe near the children.
Even the backyard mat was partly hers.
Elaine had been short on funds that month, so Laurel covered the difference.
Derek had shoved Caleb onto a mat his mother paid for while bragging that Laurel contributed nothing but paperwork.
Laurel did not reveal the amounts to shame him.
Derek did that himself.
“You think one roof payment means you can control us?”
Mallory closed her eyes.
Elaine looked toward Laurel.
“You paid for my roof?”
“Yes.”
“I thought Derek did.”
Derek’s face tightened.
May you like
The laughter that usually protected him was gone.
People were beginning to understand that his confidence had been financed by the woman he mocked.
