Chapter 7 - THE CRACKS
Miami should have felt like freedom.
Instead, Daniel spent half the trip checking his phone.
Vanessa noticed.
“You expecting someone?”
“No.”
“Claire?”
Daniel lowered the phone.
“Why do you always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Bring her up.”
“Because she’s still in the room even when she’s not.”
He laughed without humor.
“We’re literally in Miami.”
“And you’re staring at your phone wondering about her loan.”
Daniel leaned back in his chair.
“I just don’t understand why a lender called me.”
“Maybe she borrowed money after she left.”
“For what?”
“Rent. A car. Who knows?”
Daniel stared at the ocean.
Claire hated debt.
She had paid cash for used cars.
She tracked groceries down to the dollar.
Why would she suddenly take out a major loan?
Vanessa touched his hand.
“Can we not spend our vacation talking about your wife?”
“Ex-wife.”
“You haven’t filed yet.”
Daniel looked at her.
Vanessa pulled her hand back.
“Exactly.”
That night, they fought.
The next morning, Daniel received a message from Rachel.
Stop calling Claire.
He stared at it.
I haven’t called her.
Rachel replied.
Then stop asking people about her money.
Daniel sat upright.
How do you know about that?
No answer.
He called immediately.
Rachel declined.
He called again.
She answered.
“What?”
“What loan?”
“None of your business.”
“She’s still legally my wife.”
Rachel laughed.
“Funny how that matters now.”
“Rachel, tell me.”
“No.”
“Is she in trouble?”
Silence.
Daniel stood.
“Is she?”
“She’s handling it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means she has been handling things for a long time.”
Daniel frowned.
“What things?”
Rachel exhaled sharply.
“I promised her I wouldn’t.”
“Promised her what?”
Nothing.
“Rachel.”
“Ask your doctor.”
The line went dead.
Daniel stared at his phone.
Vanessa stepped out of the bathroom.
“Who was that?”
“Rachel.”
Her expression hardened.
“What did she want?”
“She told me to ask Dr. Harris about Claire.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Daniel, we’re supposed to be celebrating us.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He grabbed his shirt.
“I need some air.”
“Where are you going?”
“Downstairs.”
Vanessa blocked the door.
“You always run when she comes up.”
“I’m not running.”
“You left a marriage for me, and somehow I’m still competing with her.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You gave me an ultimatum.”
“And you chose.”
“Did I?”
The words came out before he could stop them.
Vanessa’s face went cold.
“What did you just say?”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Vanessa.”
“No.”
She opened the door.
“Go get your air.”
Daniel walked out.
Two hours later, he called Dr. Harris.
The doctor answered on the fourth ring.
“Daniel?”
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Why does Claire owe First Federal money?”
Silence.
Daniel’s pulse quickened.
“Doctor?”
“Ask Claire.”
“She won’t talk to me.”
“That should tell you something.”
Daniel clenched his jaw.
“Rachel told me to ask you.”
Another pause.
Then Dr. Harris said quietly, “Come see me when you’re back.”
Daniel stopped walking.
“Why can’t you tell me now?”
“Because this isn’t a conversation you should hear over the phone.”
Daniel looked out at the bright Miami water.
Suddenly, the vacation felt very far away.
“What did Claire do?”
Dr. Harris answered with six words.
May you like
“She made your surgery possible, Daniel.”
Then he hung up.
