Chapter 5: The Money He Thought I Would Never Miss
I couldn’t speak.
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.
“What did you say?””
Thomas was silent on the other end.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Hayes. I assumed you knew.””
“Knew what?””
I looked at Robert.
He was watching me carefully.
“Thomas,” I said, forcing my voice to remain calm, “please tell me exactly what you mean.””
“When Wade approached me about investing in his business idea, he mentioned that his parents had helped him financially.””
My heart sank.
“His parents?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
Because there it was.
A small detail.
A tiny change in wording.
A lie hidden inside something ordinary.
“He told you we both helped him?””
“He implied it.””
My fingers went cold.
Robert immediately reached for my hand.
“Edna?””
I whispered:
“How much?””
Thomas hesitated.
“How much what?””
“How much did he receive from you?””
A long pause.
Then:
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.””
I felt something break inside me.
Not because of the money.
Not really.
Money could be earned.
Money could be replaced.
But trust?
That was different.
I had given Wade everything I had.
And apparently, he had been collecting from everyone around him.
“I’m sorry,” Thomas said.
“No.””
My voice was quiet.
“This isn’t your fault.””
After we ended the call, I sat there staring at the wall.
Robert didn’t speak.
He knew better.
Finally, I said:
“He lied.””
Robert nodded.
“Yes.””
“He made me think I was the only person helping him.””
“Yes.””
I laughed softly.
It wasn’t happiness.
It was disbelief.
“I spent months eating cheap meals because I wanted him to have that house.””
Robert squeezed my hand.
“I know.””
“I delayed replacing my car.””
“I know.””
“I told myself it didn’t matter because my son was building a future.””
My voice cracked.
“And he was just building a life where I wasn’t included.””
The next day, I went to see Wade.
Not because I wanted to forgive him.
Not because I wanted to fight.
I needed answers.
His office was downtown.
A glass building full of people wearing expensive clothes and carrying expensive phones.
The receptionist smiled.
“Can I help you?””
“I’m here to see Wade Hayes.””
She checked the schedule.
“Do you have an appointment?””
I almost laughed.
Appointment.
With my own son.
“Yes,” I said.
A few minutes later, Wade came out.
When he saw me, surprise crossed his face.
“Mom?””
“Can we talk?””
He looked around.
People were walking past us.
“Here?””
“Yes.””
He led me into a small conference room.
The door closed.
I sat across from him.
“Did you borrow money from Thomas Peterson?””
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
He looked away.
“Mom.””
“How much?””
“Twenty-five thousand.””
I nodded slowly.
“And you told him your parents helped you.””
“I didn’t say that exactly.””
“You let him believe it.””
He sighed.
“I didn’t think it mattered.””
Those words hurt.
“I don’t think you understand how many things you’ve decided don’t matter.””
He looked frustrated.
“Mom, I was trying to build something.””
“And I was trying to help you.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
He rubbed his face.
“You’re making me feel like I’m some terrible person.””
I stared at him.
“I’m telling you how your actions made me feel.””
He looked down.
Then quietly said:
“I didn’t want people knowing you gave me the money.””
“Why?””
The silence answered before he did.
Then he said:
“Because people would assume I couldn’t do it myself.””
I felt numb.
“So you hid me.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
I leaned forward.
“You hid the woman who helped you because you thought admitting I existed would make you look weaker.””
“That’s not what I meant.””
“It is exactly what you meant.””
Wade stood.
“I was under pressure.””
I stood too.
“And I was a single mother.””
He froze.
“I worked nights.””
Silence.
“I missed birthdays because I was working.””
Silence.
“I ate leftovers for years.””
His eyes became wet.
But I kept going.
“I did all of that because I believed you would remember.””
I picked up my purse.
“Apparently, I was wrong.””
Before I reached the door, Wade said:
“Mom.””
I stopped.
His voice sounded different.
Smaller.
Like the boy I remembered.
“I’m sorry.””
I didn’t turn around.
“Are you sorry because you hurt me?””
A pause.
Or because Thomas knows the truth?
He didn’t answer.
And that was enough.
I left.
Outside the building, my phone rang.
It was Fallon.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
“Hello?””
Her voice was cold.
“Edna, we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“About Robert.””
I frowned.
“What about him?””
She lowered her voice.
“You need to know something before you embarrass yourself.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What are you talking about?””
A pause.
May you like
Then Fallon said:
“Robert isn’t the only one keeping secrets.””
