Chapter 12 - Ray’s Silence Had A Price
Ray called after the service wing came down.
“The cabinet's gone.”
“Good.”
“You want the key back?”
I looked at the brass key in the bowl beside my front door.
He had not taken it.
“No.”
“It was your father's.”
“So?”
Ray laughed softly.
“Your family usually needs provenance before throwing out a spoon.”
“I'm improving the bloodline.”
He almost laughed again.
Then:
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Do you hate me?”
I sat at the kitchen counter.
“Some days.”
“Fair.”
He sounded relieved.
“Don't sound relieved.”
“Sorry.”
I looked toward Noah's empty high chair.
He was with Ben again.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Ray sighed.
“We covered this.”
“No. You said you thought it was temporary and waited for me to ask.”
“Yes.”
“That was week one.”
Silence.
“Why not month six?”
Ray took a long time.
“Because Eleanor paid me.”
There.
“How?”
“Severance.”
“How much?”
“Six months.”
My anger rose.
“You accepted money.”
“Yes.”
“Was there an NDA?”
“Yes.”
“Would it actually have prevented you from telling me about a lie involving my marriage?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you ask a lawyer?”
“No.”
“So the NDA was useful to your conscience.”
“Yes.”
Good.
“What happened after six months?”
“I had another job.”
“And?”
“My wife and I moved.”
“And?”
“I told myself you had made your decision.”
I laughed.
“Based on the thing you knew.”
“I know.”
“Did you ever come close?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Ray's voice changed.
“After Noah was born.”
I froze.
“You saw us?”
“At a grocery store.”
I remembered nothing.
“You were carrying him in one of those chest carriers.”
“Okay.”
“You looked exhausted.”
“Accurate.”
“Your mother was with you.”
Of course.
“What did you do?”
“Walked the other way.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why?”
“Because I thought telling you in the cereal aisle would be cruel.”
“That is reasonable.”
“I also didn't call the next day.”
“Less reasonable.”
“Yes.”
“What made you come back now?”
“The cabinet.”
“That's it?”
“No.”
He sighed.
“I heard Eleanor was moving the brooch.”
“How?”
“Former maintenance guy called.”
“And?”
“I realized once the cabinet disappeared, I'd lose the last thing proving I hadn't imagined how bad the choice was.”
That was interesting.
“For you.”
“Yes.”
“So this wasn't only for me.”
“No.”
Good answer.
“I wanted to stop Eleanor from erasing it.”
“And clear yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Why the weird doorway line?”
Ray laughed despite the conversation.
“Because I walked in and saw you holding the key while Eleanor looked ready to climb over the table.”
“So you said don't let her open it.”
“Yes.”
“You could've used a name.”
“I panicked.”
“Apparently everybody did three years ago too.”
“Fair.”
I looked at the key.
“Ray.”
“Yes?”
“I'm grateful you came back.”
He said nothing.
“I’m still angry you left.”
“I know.”
“Both.”
“Yes.”
After the call, I put the key into a drawer.
Not a shrine.
Not the thing that saved my marriage.
May you like
It had opened one cabinet.
The harder doors had all been people deciding whether to answer.
