At first, they made excuses. For the fifth dinner, they just waited.
I had a steady income, but my money was not unlimited.
As I hated public confrontations, I smiled, delivered my card and promised myself that next time I would speak.
But the next time he continued to postpone.
Finally, Serena gave me a nickname.
She used that expression in restaurants, in family gatherings, and even once in front of a waiter who laughed because everyone else did too.
Chris never laughed out loud.
Somehow, this made the situation worse.
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I was giving myself a smile of apology and saying, “It’s just dinner. It’s easier like that.”
I used to think I meant it would be easier for both of us.
I finally understood what I meant while we were sitting at the kitchen table.
One night, while I was reviewing our finances, I noticed the transfer.
Eight hundred and fifty dollars were transferred from our birthday account to pay the credit card bill.
I checked the date.
It happened the morning after the previous family dinner.
Working with numbers taught me to pay attention. I knew all the bills and all the amounts I had saved.
For three years, I was saving money for our 10th wedding anniversary. At a difficult time in our marriage, Chris promised that we would finally take a trip only the two of us.
I held on to that promise. I skipped lunch, worked overtime and continued wearing an old coat.
