“I didn’t know that. I don’t know anything about our finances. You’ve kept me completely in the dark.”

“If you’re in the dark it isn’t my fault. I haven’t hidden a damn thing from you.”

“You take care of everything. I never even see our bills.”

“Jesus Christ, Lina! Are you listening to yourself? I’ve been taking care of you for twenty-five years, and suddenly that makes me the bad guy? Have you ever wanted for anything?”

“That isn’t the point.”

“Then what is the point? Please tell me the fucking point!”

“Don’t yell at me.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what the fuck is going on. You’re making no sense.”

“You made me completely dependent on you,” she rushed out. “I don’t want to need you.”

“I’m your husband. You’re supposed to need me.”

“I don’t want to.”

Seconds passed before he replied. “What are you saying?” All the anger was gone from his voice.

She closed her eyes, a knot twisting in her stomach. “I don’t know.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I’m very confused.”

“Well, I suppose you’ll let me know when you’re not confused anymore. In the meantime, I’ll start looking for a place to live.” When she didn’t respond after several seconds, he continued. “Regardless of what someone is whispering in your ear, I would never cut you off financially. Every account we have is in both our names. If you want to understand our finances, just look in the safe. The combination is the month and day we met. The names of our accounts and passcodes are inside. And this is not the first or even second time I’ve told you this.”

He was right. She recalled him telling her before he left with Logan on an overnight lacrosse trip the previous spring. Her guilt over transferring money from their account returned. She should never have listened to Adele. “I’ll put the money back tomorrow.”

“No,” he said. “If that account provides you with some sense of autonomy that you need, I want you to keep it. But please don’t move any more money without my knowledge.”

Chapter 34

34

The plan was to meet in the courtyard outside Nick’s building and enjoy the fall weather, but it was raining, so Lina instead went up to his office. “What did you do?” he asked after his last patient left and they were alone in his waiting room. “Buy one of everything?”

She smiled as she came to her feet, two overstuffed bags in her arms. “I couldn’t decide, and I knew Logan would finish off anything we don’t, so…” She trailed off as he stopped within inches of her, brushing his lips over her cheek.