Chapter 26 - Evelyn buys her own ticket
Two years after the slap, Evelyn invited me to lunch.
I almost declined.
Then accepted.
Public restaurant.
She arrived in a yellow scarf.
I noticed.
She noticed me noticing.
“Too much?”
“No.”
We sat.
She looked different.
Not poorer.
Less theatrical.
She said:
“I sold the Palm Beach club membership.”
“You had a membership?”
“Seasonal arrangement.”
Of course.
Then:
“I also canceled the housekeeper two days a week.”
I did not know why she was telling me.
Finally:
“I had no idea how much of my life had become dependent on money I thought Daniel was earning.”
I said:
“You had your own money.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“I liked not having to use it.”
That was startlingly honest.
She continued:
“When the ten thousand stopped, I felt betrayed by you.”
“I remember.”
“But you never promised me forever.”
“No.”
“I still hated you.”
“I assumed.”
She smiled faintly.
“Then my financial adviser asked why I was spending eighteen thousand dollars a month.”
I laughed.
“Brave man.”
“He was twenty-nine.”
“Braver.”
She smiled.
Then:
“I changed things.”
Good.
Not because I demanded it.
Because the allowance disappearing forced reality into the room.
Before leaving, Evelyn said:
“I bought my own plane ticket for Florida next month.”
“Congratulations?”
She laughed.
“I know it sounds ridiculous.”
“It does.”
“I used to call Daniel when I wanted to travel.”
“And?”
“He’d say he handled it.”
She looked at me.
“Now I understand that sometimes ‘handled it’ meant he asked you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
We hugged?
No.
Not yet.
May you like
We shook hands like diplomats.
Strangely appropriate.
