That night, at exactly nine o’clock, David’s phone rang. It was his mother, calling from Naples like always.
David looked at the screen for a long time. Then he answered and put it on speaker.
“Hi, sweetheart!” Linda’s voice was bright and happy. “How did the demo go? Did you get pictures? Send me pictures!”
“It went fine, Mom,” David said. His voice was flat. “The kitchen’s gone.”
“Oh, I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see it when it’s done. You’re the best son in the world, you know that?”
“Mom,” David said. “Who’s Frank?”
There was a pause on the line, a long one.
“What?” Linda said.
“Frank. The man in your Facebook picture. In Naples.”
Another pause. Then a nervous laugh. “Oh, Frankie. He’s just a friend, honey. A friend from church. He moved down there a couple years ago.”
“And the house, Mom? The real estate listing? Coming June, brand-new chef’s kitchen, $389,000?”
The silence on the line was total.
“Who told you about that?” Linda’s voice had gone cold.
“Does it matter?”
“It was Rachel, wasn’t it? She’s been trying to turn you against me since the day you married her.”
I opened my mouth, but David held up his hand.
“Mom, I found the sign in your garage. I read the listing. I saw the Facebook post.” He took a breath. “Are you selling the house?”
Linda was quiet for a long moment. When she spoke again, her voice was different. It wasn’t bright or cold. It was defensive.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m selling the house. Frank and I are getting married in September. I’m moving to Naples. I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After the kitchen was done.”
“Why after?”
She didn’t answer.
“Because if I’d known,” David said slowly, “I wouldn’t have paid for it.”
“David, honey, you don’t understand. The realtor said with a new kitchen, I could get fifty, sixty thousand more for the house. Frank and I want to buy a condo on the water. I needed that money. And you had all that savings just sitting there.”
“It wasn’t sitting there, Mom. It was our anniversary. Rachel and I saved for a year.”
“Oh, you can go to Hawaii anytime,” Linda said dismissively. “You’re young. I’m sixty-three. How many chances am I going to get?”
David closed his eyes.
“And the contract?” he said. “You told me the whole remodel was eleven thousand. It’s thirty-six thousand eight hundred. I signed as responsible for the rest.”
“Well, I’ll pay the rest when the house sells. That was always the plan.”
“Then why did you have me sign as the responsible party?”
Silence.
“Because the contractor wouldn’t do it without a guarantor,” Linda finally said. “My credit score isn’t great since I leased the Telluride. And you have such good credit, sweetheart.”
David hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
He sat at our kitchen table staring at the black screen for a long time.
“She used me,” he said. “My whole life, she’s been telling me she gave up everything for me. And she just used me.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.