The hurt on Daniel’s face was real.
That made what came next harder, but it did not make it less necessary.
“I planned to tell you tonight,” I continued.
“I baked your favorite pie.
I opened the windows.
I thought we would sit here and talk about why I’m ready to leave.”
Laurel slapped the folder onto the table.
“So this was some kind of test?”
“No.
Until you began assigning bedrooms, I had no idea there was anything to test.”
She folded her arms.
“You expect us to believe you just happened to sell the house on the same day we brought this up?”
“I didn’t know you were bringing it up.
That is the point.”
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
“How long have you been planning this?”
“Since February.”
His head lifted sharply.
“Three months?”
“Yes.”
“And you never said anything?”
“I wanted to be certain before I worried you.
The first offer fell through.
The second was too low.
This one is fair, the financing is solid, and the buyers agreed to let me remain until July first.”
Laurel stared at me as if every quiet day of the previous three months had been an act of betrayal.
“You let us make plans.”
“I did not know your plans existed.”
“We discussed her family’s situation in front of you.”
“You said Kendra’s landlord might raise the rent.
You said your parents were thinking of selling.
Nobody said, ‘We have promised them Margaret’s house.’”
Daniel looked at his phone.
I followed his gaze.
“Show me the messages.”
He did not move.
“Daniel.”
Laurel stepped between us verbally before he could answer.
“Private conversations between a husband and wife are not your business.”
“Conversations in which my house was offered to six people are very much my business.”
“Kendra has two children, not four.”
“Your parents, your sister, her children, and me.
Six people.
Unless you had also decided I was leaving.”
Laurel’s eyes narrowed.
“We assumed you would stay in your room.”
“Your parents were taking the upstairs.”
“There are two rooms upstairs.”
“One is mine.
The other is barely large enough for a twin bed.”
“We could have rearranged things.”
“You mean you could have rearranged me.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
That silence told me more than an explanation would have.
“You discussed my room too,” I said.
“No,” he replied quickly.
