“No. Just thought I’d visit. I brought some groceries.”
“Oh, what a sweetheart! Come on in, I’ll put the kettle on.”
Susan entered and took off her shoes. She went into the kitchen and set the bag on the table. She looked around. In the corner stood a refrigerator. A large, white, two-door model. Brand new. So she had really bought it. Eleanor bustled around, getting out cups and making tea. Susan sat down and unpacked the groceries.
“That’s a nice refrigerator,” she said. “Lots of space.”
“Yes, I finally got one. The old one was completely shot, the repairman wouldn’t even look at it. Said to just throw it out. I bought this one on an installment plan. I pay a hundred dollars a month.”
“Was the down payment large?”
“Twelve hundred. You remember, I asked you for it.”
Susan nodded. So she hadn’t lied. She really did buy the refrigerator. But a bad taste lingered. For some reason, she’d felt like her mother-in-law had spent the money on something else. They drank their tea, and Eleanor asked about work, about Mike. Susan answered briefly. Then her mother-in-law leaned in and lowered her voice.
“Listen, Susan, I was thinking about that tax deduction. Maybe you could just show me the statement after all? I really want to help, maybe they’ll actually give you something back.”
“Eleanor, I already told you, that’s not how deductions work. I don’t need to show you the statement.”
“Why are you so stubborn? I’m just trying to do something nice.”
“Thank you, but no.”
Her mother-in-law’s face darkened. She pushed her cup away and folded her hands on the table.
“Are you hiding something?”
“What?” Susan frowned.
“Well, if you don’t want to show me your statement, you must be hiding something. Maybe you’re spending money on something? On yourself? Something Mike isn’t supposed to know about?”
Susan felt anger boil up inside her. She grabbed her purse and stood up.
“I’m not hiding anything. I just don’t feel the need to discuss my finances. Goodbye.”
“Susan, where are you going? I didn’t mean to offend you!”
But Susan was already at the door. She put on her shoes, walked out, and let the door slam behind her. She went down the stairs and got in her car. Her hands were shaking. She took a deep breath. Stay calm, it’s fine. Her mother-in-law was just being nosy.
That evening, Mike came home looking grim. He tossed his phone on the table and gave Susan a hard look.
“Mom called. She said you came over and were rude to her.”
“I wasn’t rude. I just refused to discuss my finances.”
“Why? She’s my mom.”
“And? Does that give her the right to control how I spend my paycheck?”
“She’s not trying to control you. She was just trying to help.”
“Mike,” Susan stood up and walked over to him. “Why does your mother need to know how much money is in my bank account?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it really is about some deduction. Or maybe she’s worried we’re in debt.”
“We’re not in debt. We’re fine.”
“Then why can’t you just show her the statement? What’s the big deal?”
Susan pressed her lips together. It was useless to explain. He wouldn’t understand. Or he didn’t want to.
“Because it’s my private information. And I’m not obligated to share it with anyone.”
Mike waved his hand dismissively and turned away.
“Do whatever you want. Just don’t upset my mother.”
He went into the other room. Susan stayed in the kitchen, a dull ache of resentment growing inside her. Why was he always on her side? Why couldn’t he, just once, stand up for his wife?
The next few days passed in a tense silence. Mike left for work early and came home late. Susan tried to stay late at the office too, to spend less time at home. They barely spoke, except when necessary. Eleanor didn’t call. But Susan could feel it: this was the calm before the storm. Her mother-in-law wasn’t the type to simply back down.
A week later, on a Friday evening, Susan came home and realized someone had been in the condo. Nothing was missing, but things were out of place. The books on the shelf were arranged differently. The clothes in the closet were hung in a different order. Susan walked through the rooms, checking. In the bedroom, a dresser drawer was slightly ajar. She distinctly remembered closing it that morning. Her heart sank. Someone had been going through their things. Who? Mike? No, he’d been at work all day. Then who?
She pulled out her phone and called Mike.
“Were you home during the day?”
“No, at the site. Why?”
“Someone was in the apartment. Things have been moved.”
“What? Are you sure you’re not imagining it?”
“I’m not imagining it. The dresser is open, the books are moved. Someone was looking for something.”
Mike was silent for a moment.
“Maybe Mom stopped by. I gave her a key, just in case of an emergency.”
Susan froze.
“A key? Your mother has a key to our home?”
“Yeah. In case we ever need anything, she can help out.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I forgot. It was a while ago.”
Susan hung up without saying goodbye. Her hands were trembling with rage. Eleanor had come into their home and rummaged through their belongings. Looking for money. Or a bank statement, or something else. Susan hurried to the hall closet. She stood on a chair. Opened the top shelf. Reached deep inside. She felt the box. Pulled it out. Opened the lid. The money was there. The onesies too. Everything was intact. Her mother-in-law hadn’t found it. Not yet. Susan put the box back. Got down from the chair. She had to do something. Eleanor could not have a key. This was an invasion of their privacy.
When Mike got home, Susan met him in the hallway.
“Get the key back from your mother.”
“What?”
“The key. I don’t want her coming in here without asking.”
“Sue, what’s wrong with you? She didn’t mean any harm. Maybe she really needed something.”
“What could she possibly need in our bedroom? In our dresser? In our closets?”
“How should I know? Maybe she was looking for where the towels are? Or something else?”
“Mike, your mother was looking for money. Or for proof that I’m spending it somewhere. She doesn’t trust me. And it sounds like you don’t either.”
“I trust you.”
“Then get the key back from her.”
Mike ran a hand over his face and sighed heavily.
“Fine, I’ll talk to her.”
But Susan knew he wouldn’t. Or he’d talk to her in a way that changed nothing. Eleanor would keep the key, keep stopping by, keep checking. And sooner or later, she would find the box.
The next morning, Susan woke up feeling nauseous. She barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up. She stood there, holding onto the sink, feeling weak. Morning sickness. The doctor had warned her: the first trimester is the toughest.
Mike knocked on the door.
“You okay in there?”
“Yeah, just ate something that didn’t agree with me.”
“Should I call a doctor?”
“No, it’ll pass.”
She washed her face and came out. Mike looked concerned.
“You’re pale. Maybe you should stay home from work today.”
“No, I have a report to finish. I’ll go.”
Susan felt sick all day. She sipped water, nibbled on crackers, and tried to avoid strong smells. Her coworkers asked if she was all right. She nodded and smiled: “Yeah, everything’s great.” On her way home, she stopped at the pharmacy and bought prenatal vitamins. The pharmacist congratulated her and gave her a brochure on diet and exercise during pregnancy. Susan stuck it in her purse and drove home.
Mike wasn’t home. A note on the table: “Went to Mom’s, she’s not feeling well. I’ll be back late.” Susan crumpled it up and threw it away. Of course his mother wasn’t feeling well. She was always not feeling well when she needed to be.
She sat on the sofa, pulled out her phone, opened the calculator, and started crunching numbers. She had $1,000 already. If she put away $250 every month, in six months she’d have another $1,500. That made $2,500. Not enough. She needed more. She opened her banking app and checked the balance. After her paycheck and all the bills, she had $400 left. She could withdraw another $200. Leave $200 for current expenses. If she did that every month, withdrawing half of what was left, she’d have enough by the time the baby came. Susan scheduled her first ultrasound for the next day. The important one. She’d see the baby, hear the heartbeat. The doctor said you could hear it as early as six weeks.
Mike came back after midnight. He lay down next to her and put his arm around her.
“How’s Mom?” Susan asked into the darkness.
“Nothing serious, her blood pressure was up. I got her some pills, sat with her for a bit.”
“Did you ask about the key?”
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