“When I was your age,” Carol said, “I was working, raising two children, and running an entire household. I didn’t have time to sit around in cafés or buy new outfits every other week.”
For a few seconds, I simply looked at her.
Then I gave a small nod.
“Perfect.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Then let’s verify that.”
I walked out of the dining room.
Javier was on his feet almost immediately, following me down the hall.
“Elena, what are you doing?”
I went into the study and woke up the computer.
“Exactly what your mother just forced me to do.”
“She didn’t force you to do anything.”
“She says I spend your money. So now we’re going to see how much of your money I actually spend.”
Javier shut the door behind him.
“You don’t have to prove anything to her.”
I turned to face him.
“That is exactly the problem.”
“What is?”
“For years, I haven’t proved anything to her because I thought the same way you do. I thought I didn’t owe anyone an explanation. And your mother used my silence to build whatever story suited her.”
Javier dragged a hand over his face.
“You know she exaggerates.”
“Exaggerates?”
I stared at him.
“Three months ago, in front of your sister, she said you paid for the car.”
“Yes…”
“The car is in my name, Javier. And I paid for it.”
He said nothing.
“At Christmas, she told everyone you paid for the kitchen remodel.”
“Elena…”
“I paid for it out of my annual bonus.”
“I know.”
“Last summer, she claimed my parents were only able to stay at that hotel because of you.”
“I know that wasn’t true.”
“Yes. You know. I know. But you never correct her.”
Javier lowered his eyes.
And right then, something became painfully clear to me.
My problem had never been only Carol.
Her son’s silence had been part of it too.
I logged into our online banking account, downloaded several documents, and printed out page after page.
Javier looked toward the printer.
“You’re really going to do this?”
“Yes.”
With a folder in my hand, I returned to the dining room.
Carol was still sitting exactly where I had left her.
When she saw me, she smiled.
“Feeling calmer now?”
I sat down.
“We haven’t even started.”
I placed the folder on the table.
“A moment ago, you said I was good for nothing except spending your son’s money.”
“Because that’s the truth.”
I opened the folder.
“Then let’s take a look at the bank statements. Unless you’d prefer to be ashamed of what you said right now and save us all some time.”
The smile disappeared from her face.
“What bank statements?”
“Ours.”
Javier slowly sat down beside me again.
No one at the table said a word.
I pulled out the first page.
“This is the account our mortgage is paid from.”
I slid it toward Carol.
“Over the past year, sixty-eight percent of the payments came from me.”
Carol’s brow tightened.
“That proves nothing.”
I took out the next sheet.
“Electricity, water, internet, insurance, utilities. All of it comes out of my account.”