Chapter 5: The Lie He Told the Other Woman
Renee read Beverly's email again.
Then a third time.
"He told her I knew?""
Lionel sat down.
"That's not exactly what happened.""
Renee turned the laptop toward him.
"Then explain exactly what happened.""
He stared at the email.
Jada stood behind her mother, her arms crossed.
Lionel sighed.
"Years ago, when Mason was born, Tasha was going through a difficult situation. I was trying to keep everything peaceful.""
"Peaceful for whom?"" Renee asked.
"For everybody.""
"You mean peaceful for you.""
"Renee, I wasn't ready to tell you.""
"Seventeen years?""
He rubbed his face.
"I thought I could handle both situations.""
Jada shook her head.
"Both situations?""
Lionel glanced at her.
"You're too young to understand adult relationships.""
"I'm nineteen. I'm old enough to understand stealing.""
He pointed toward her.
"Don't talk to me like that.""
Renee raised her hand.
"Leave her alone. Answer my question.""
Lionel leaned back.
"When Mason was born, Tasha needed help. Her family wasn't supportive. I was working, and I had responsibilities.""
"So you invented a story about me?""
"I never said you were involved in everything.""
"But you let her believe I knew.""
"I didn't correct her.""
Renee stared at him.
There it was.
Not an accident.
Not a misunderstanding.
A deliberate lie.
"Did you tell her I agreed to be Mason's emergency contact?""
Lionel said nothing.
"Did you tell her I agreed to share my insurance?""
"Renee—"
"Did you?""
"I needed the paperwork completed.""
Renee slowly nodded.
"That's a yes.""
Lionel stood.
"I was trying to protect my son.""
"And what about your daughter?""
He turned toward Jada.
"I provided for you both.""
Jada laughed bitterly.
"You didn't even remember my first day of high school because you were at Mason's birthday dinner.""
Lionel's face changed.
Jada continued.
"You missed my driver's test because you were helping him buy a car. You told me we couldn't afford my graduation party, but you took him to a football game.""
"That's enough.""
"No. It's not.""
Jada stepped closer.
"I used to think you were just busy. I used to make excuses for you whenever Mom asked why you weren't home.""
Her voice cracked.
"I thought maybe I wasn't important enough.""
Renee reached for her daughter's hand.
Lionel looked uncomfortable.
"Jada, I never wanted you to feel that way.""
"But you made sure I did.""
He looked away.
Renee returned to the laptop.
She opened the next document.
It was an email exchange between Lionel and Tasha.
The messages were dated seven years earlier.
The first one was from Tasha.
Renee asked when we're going to have dinner together. I don't know what to tell her.
Lionel's response was short.
She's fine with everything. Don't worry.
Renee stopped breathing for a moment.
She opened another message.
Can we stop pretending? Mason is getting older. He wants to know why you don't live with us.
Lionel had replied:
When the time is right, I'll explain. Renee understands that my responsibilities are complicated.
Renee closed her eyes.
The next email was worse.
I want us to be a real family. I don't want Mason growing up feeling like a secret.
Lionel's answer:
We already are a family. Be patient.
Renee pushed the laptop away.
"How many people did you tell I knew?""
Lionel looked exhausted.
"I don't remember.""
"How many?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you tell Tasha I agreed to this?""
He hesitated.
"She knew I was married.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Lionel finally said, "Yes.""
Renee looked at the ceiling.
Twenty years of marriage.
Seventeen years of another household.
And somewhere along the way, her husband had turned her into an imaginary participant in a life she had never agreed to.
Jada quietly walked to the refrigerator and poured herself water.
Her hands were shaking.
Renee noticed.
"Sweetheart, come sit.""
"I'm okay.""
"Please.""
Jada returned to the table.
Renee put an arm around her.
Then she opened the insurance document again.
"Why did you put the Westerville apartment in my name?""
Lionel rubbed his neck.
"It was easier.""
"Easier than what?""
"Getting approved.""
Renee frowned.
"Explain.""
"My credit was tied up in another property. The apartment manager wanted a co-applicant.""
"So you used my information.""
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
"Eventually.""
Renee looked at the screen.
"Did I sign the lease?""
Lionel shook his head.
"No. I handled it.""
"Did you give them my Social Security number?""
He didn't answer.
Renee felt a cold wave move through her body.
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
Jada stood.
"Oh my God.""
Lionel immediately raised his voice.
"Don't make it sound like I committed some terrible crime. It was an apartment lease.""
Renee looked at him.
"You used my identity without permission.""
"I was your husband.""
"That doesn't give you permission.""
He paced toward the living room.
"I've spent twenty years supporting this household. I made mistakes. But everything I did was to keep the family together.""
Renee followed him with her eyes.
"Which family?""
He stopped.
She repeated the question.
"Which family were you keeping together?""
Before he could answer, someone knocked on the front door.
Three firm knocks.
Lionel looked toward the hallway.
"Who is that?""
Renee stood.
"I don't know.""
She walked to the door and opened it.
Beverly stood outside.
Her eyes were red.
She held a thick manila envelope against her chest.
"Can I come in?""
Renee stepped aside.
Beverly entered and looked directly at Lionel.
"Did you tell her about the money you borrowed from me?""
Lionel's face hardened.
"Not now.""
Beverly placed the envelope on the table.
"Then I'll tell her.""
Renee looked down.
"What money?""
Beverly pulled out a chair.
"Three years ago, Lionel asked me for $12,000. He said you were having financial problems and that he needed help keeping the house.""
Renee stared.
"We weren't having financial problems.""
"I know that now.""
Beverly opened the envelope.
Inside were bank transfer records and printed messages.
"At the time, I believed him. I transferred the money directly to his account.""
Lionel stepped forward.
"You said you wouldn't bring this up.""
Beverly looked at him.
"I said I wouldn't embarrass you in front of Renee. I never said I'd lie forever.""
Renee examined the records.
The money had been transferred in four installments.
But what caught her attention was the final page.
A handwritten note.
It contained a list of payments Lionel had made to the Westerville apartment.
Rent.
Utilities.
Insurance.
And something labeled FAMILY SUPPORT.
Renee pointed at it.
"What's this?""
Beverly hesitated.
"That's the amount he told me he was paying every month.""
"To whom?""
"Tasha.""
Renee looked at the total.
Nearly $2,000 every month.
For years.
Then she noticed the date of Beverly's final transfer.
It was only six months earlier.
She looked up.
"You were still giving him money?""
Beverly nodded.
"He told me Jada needed help with college and that you didn't want anyone knowing you were struggling.""
Jada stared at her aunt.
"He said that?""
"Yes.""
Renee slowly turned toward Lionel.
"You borrowed money from your own sister by telling her we couldn't afford our daughter's education?""
Lionel's silence was enough.
Beverly wiped her eyes.
"There's something else.""
Renee looked at her.
"What?""
Beverly reached into the envelope and pulled out a folded letter.
"I found this in Lionel's truck after he asked me to clean it last month.""
She placed it on the table.
The letter was addressed to Tasha.
May you like
And the first sentence made Renee's heart stop.
Once Renee signs the property transfer, we can finally stop hiding.
