Chapter 8 - The Secret From Eight Years Ago
Rachel sat down.
Michael looked ready to explode.
“Don't,” he warned her.
She ignored him.
“After Noah was born, Michael called me.”
I stared at her.
“He said the timing felt wrong.”
My skin turned cold.
“The timing?”
“He thought maybe you had cheated.”
I looked at my husband.
“You tested our son behind my back?”
Michael rubbed his forehead.
“It was eight years ago.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“Yes.”
The word barely came out.
Mom whispered, “Michael...”
He looked defensive now.
“I was under stress. We were fighting. Noah came early.”
“He was premature.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew that then.”
“I wasn't thinking.”
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“And Rachel knew?”
Neither answered.
I looked at my sister.
“You knew my husband secretly tested my baby and you never told me?”
She looked ashamed.
“He begged me not to.”
“And you liked having secrets with him.”
Her face crumpled.
That hit because it was true.
I turned to Michael.
“What did the test say?”
He looked almost offended.
“That Noah was mine.”
I laughed through tears.
“Congratulations.”
Then my phone rang.
Tom.
I answered.
“Sarah, I found something else.”
I almost said I couldn't take anything else.
But he continued.
“Rachel used our home equity line six months ago.”
My sister's head snapped up.
Tom's voice came through the speaker.
“Forty-five thousand dollars.”
I looked at Rachel.
Tom said, “And the transfer went to Morrow Holdings.”
Michael closed his eyes.
Rachel whispered, “You said you'd pay it back.”
Tom heard her.
May you like
His voice went deadly quiet.
“So that's where our money went.”
