Chapter 2 - Amy Finally Told Me Everything
Frederick was diagnosed with a viral infection and dehydration.
Thankfully, the doctors believed he would recover quickly.
But when the nurse left our hospital room, Amy sat in the chair beside his bed and stared at the floor.
I knew that look.
She had something to tell me.
“Amy.”
I said softly.
“How long has this been happening?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
That frightened me more than anything.
Finally, she whispered.
“Since Frederick was about three months old.”
I felt as if someone had punched me.
“Three months?”
Amy nodded.
“At first your mother was nice.”
She said.
“She brought groceries and helped with laundry.”
“Then she started telling me how much everything cost.”
“She said the money you sent her belonged to the Bradley family, not me.”
I sat down across from her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.”
That answer hurt.
Amy looked at me.
“Remember when I said your mother kept criticizing what I bought?”
I remembered.
Teresa told me Amy was emotional from lack of sleep.
I believed my mother.
“Remember when I asked you whether she really needed three thousand dollars every month?”
I remembered that too.
My mother had called me afterward.
She said Amy resented helping family.
I had defended Teresa.
Amy continued.
“Then she started coming over when you were working.”
“She opened our mail.”
“She went through your desk.”
“She told me not to touch financial documents because I didn’t understand business.”
My chest became tight.
“She actually said that?”
Amy gave me a tired smile.
“She said worse.”
Then she told me about the birthday party.
Teresa arrived at nine that morning with Betsy, Mason, and several relatives.
Amy had told her Frederick was sick and wanted to cancel.
Teresa refused.
“She said people already bought gifts.”
Amy explained.
“Then she told me I had embarrassed her enough by marrying you without a big family wedding.”
My hands curled into fists.
Amy continued.
“She took my phone.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“She said I was being disrespectful because I kept checking Frederick’s temperature.”
“She put my phone in her purse.”
“Then she told me twenty people were coming.”
Amy’s voice became weaker.
“I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.”
“She kept saying I couldn’t sit down because guests would think you married a lazy woman.”
I covered my face.
Every month I had sent my mother money because I believed she was making Amy’s life easier.
Instead, I had financed Amy’s humiliation.
“I’m sorry.”
I whispered.
Amy reached across and touched my hand.
“I don’t need you to apologize.”
She said.
“I need you to believe me now.”
“I do.”
And I meant it.
Then Amy said something that made me look up immediately.
“Connor.”
“There’s something else.”
“Last week your mother asked me where you keep your passport.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
“She said you were planning a surprise trip.”
“I told her I didn’t know.”
Amy paused.
“Then yesterday I found your desk unlocked.”
“You always lock it.”
I stood.
Inside that desk were my company records.
Insurance documents.
Tax information.
And the paperwork for a second property I had recently purchased outside Nashville.
Only three people knew about that property.
Me.
Amy.
May you like
And my accountant.
Until my mother found my desk.
