Chapter 2: The Money My Father Never Knew About
Erin didn't answer immediately.
She looked at her father.
Then at the invoice.
Then at Wade.
For the first time in months, she wondered whether she had been protecting the wrong person.
"How much?"" Frank repeated gently.
Wade stepped forward.
"That's not important, Dad.""
Frank kept his eyes on Erin.
"I asked my daughter.""
Wade's jaw tightened.
"You're getting confused. We talked about the household expenses. Erin helps out when she can. There's no reason to make this into something bigger.""
Frank finally turned toward him.
"Then why is there a car repair bill in front of her?""
Wade glanced at the paper.
"It's complicated.""
"Is the car mine?""
"No.""
"Is it Erin's?""
"No, but—"
"Then why is she being asked to pay for it?""
Dawn quietly closed the refrigerator.
The little click sounded unusually loud.
Erin folded her hands in her lap.
"Dad, I've been sending Wade money every month.""
Frank nodded.
"I know about the money for my medication.""
"And the groceries?""
"I thought Wade paid for those.""
Erin looked down.
"I buy most of them.""
Frank's expression changed.
"Most?""
"Pretty much every week.""
Wade interrupted.
"That's not true. We split things.""
Erin turned toward him.
"Which things?""
Wade's nostrils flared.
"Don't do this.""
"Which groceries did you buy last Sunday?""
"Erin.""
"What did you buy?""
Frank watched them both.
His daughter's voice wasn't loud. That made it worse.
She wasn't trying to win an argument.
She was trying to understand how much of her life had been turned into a lie.
Wade pulled out the chair opposite them.
"I live here, Dad. I take care of you. Erin comes over with a few bags of groceries and acts like she's the only person doing anything.""
Frank's eyes narrowed.
"Did I say she was the only person?""
"No, but—"
"Then let her finish.""
Erin swallowed.
"I transfer seven hundred and fifty dollars every month. Sometimes more. I paid for your dental work in August.
I paid the pharmacy bill in September. Last month, I paid the plumber because the kitchen sink was leaking.""
Frank looked stunned.
"The plumber?""
"Yes.""
"I thought Wade handled that.""
"He told me the bill was urgent.""
Wade shifted in his seat.
"It was urgent.""
Erin nodded.
"Yes. It was. That's why I paid it.""
Frank turned toward his son.
"How much did that cost?""
"About three hundred.""
"Who paid?""
Wade didn't answer.
Erin did.
"I did.""
Dawn picked up an empty grocery bag and began folding it.
Frank looked at his daughter again.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Erin gave him a sad smile.
"Because I didn't want you worrying about money.""
Frank's face softened.
She continued.
"And because Wade told me you didn't want to be bothered with financial details. He said you needed peace and quiet.""
Wade stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
Frank looked up.
"No, it isn't.""
"Dad, you're making yourself upset.""
"I'll decide when I'm upset.""
The room fell silent.
Frank had never been a loud man. Even when Erin and Wade were children, he rarely raised his voice.
But when he spoke, people listened.
He had worked as a mechanic for nearly forty years. He had raised two children after their mother died, packed their lunches, attended school meetings, and spent countless nights repairing broken toys at the kitchen table.
He had taught Wade how to drive.
He had taught Erin how to change a tire.
And he had taught both of them that family meant showing up.
Now he sat between them, realizing that his children had been living two completely different versions of the same family.
Frank looked at Erin.
"Did you stop coming because of something I said?""
Her eyes immediately filled again.
"No, Dad.""
"Did I hurt your feelings?""
"No.""
"Did I ever tell you I didn't want you here?""
Erin shook her head.
"Never.""
Frank pressed his lips together.
"Then I don't understand.""
Erin reached for his hand.
"I kept coming because I missed you.""
His eyes grew wet.
"Then why did I believe you had stopped?""
Neither of them spoke.
Wade leaned against the counter.
"Dad, I was trying to protect you. You get tired easily. I didn't want you worrying about whether Erin could make it every weekend.""
Frank looked at him.
"Protect me from what?""
"Disappointment.""
Frank stared.
"By telling me my daughter didn't want to visit?""
Wade rubbed his face.
"That's not exactly what happened.""
Erin looked at him.
"Then tell Dad what happened.""
Wade didn't respond.
Dawn finally spoke.
"Maybe we should all calm down.""
Frank turned toward her.
"Dawn, did you know Erin was coming every Sunday?""
Dawn hesitated.
"Well, I knew she brought things.""
"Did you know she wanted to see me?""
"Of course.""
"Then why didn't anyone tell me?""
Dawn glanced at Wade.
It was a small movement.
But Frank noticed.
Erin noticed too.
Frank slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the table.
"How long has this been going on?""
Wade shook his head.
"You're making it sound like some kind of conspiracy.""
"I asked how long.""
"Since summer, maybe.""
Frank's expression hardened.
"Since summer?""
Erin looked at him.
"Dad, I've been coming since summer.""
Frank closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he asked, "How many Sundays?""
"Every one I could.""
"Did you ever leave without seeing me?""
Erin hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Wade said you were sleeping. Or that you had a headache. Sometimes he said you were at an appointment.""
Frank looked toward his son.
"I haven't missed a Sunday afternoon appointment in years.""
Wade's face changed.
Erin remembered one particular afternoon in September.
She had driven forty minutes through heavy rain. She had brought her father's favorite apple pie and a new pair of slippers.
Wade had met her at the door.
"Dad's not feeling well," he had said.
She had left the pie on the counter and driven home.
The following week, she had called her father.
He had asked why she hadn't visited.
She had told him Wade said he was sick.
Frank had said he was feeling fine.
At the time, Erin had assumed there had been a misunderstanding.
Now she realized how many misunderstandings could fit inside a lie.
Frank reached for her hand again.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
Erin shook her head.
"You didn't do anything.""
"I believed something that wasn't true.""
"You trusted your son.""
Frank looked down.
"And you trusted me enough to keep coming.""
His voice cracked.
Erin leaned toward him, and he kissed her forehead.
Wade watched them.
The closeness between father and daughter seemed to irritate him more than the questions.
Finally, he grabbed the repair invoice.
"Fine. If everyone wants to make me the villain, I'll leave.""
Frank looked at him.
"Put that paper down.""
Wade froze.
"What?""
"Put it down.""
Wade dropped the invoice onto the table.
Frank tapped it once.
"That bill is yours?""
"Yes.""
"And you wanted Erin to pay it before she could sit with me?""
"I didn't say she couldn't sit with you.""
"You told her I didn't want to see her.""
Wade looked away.
Frank leaned back.
"Answer me.""
Wade's voice became sharper.
"I do everything around here. I deserve something.""
Frank studied him.
"Do you?""
Wade threw his hands up.
"Unbelievable. You know what? Nobody appreciates what I do.""
He turned toward Dawn.
"Get your coat. We're going.""
Dawn didn't move.
Frank looked at his daughter.
"Erin, have you ever seen the bank statements for the money you send?""
Erin frowned.
"No. Wade always said he handled the household account.""
Frank slowly looked at his son.
"Show us the account.""
Wade's face went pale.
"Dad, that's private.""
Frank's voice was quiet.
"Not when my daughter is paying into it.""
Wade took a step backward.
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And for the first time, Erin noticed something beyond his anger.
Fear.
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