Redesigning Rose

Chapter 1

I didn’t want to betray my husband’s trust. But this was my mother, not his.

“Mom, is everything okay financially?” I asked, running my thumb along the rim of my mug. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I’d sat for a week on the fact that my mother didn’t approach me, but chose to go directly to my husband with her financial issues. Although disappointed, I was even more devastated that she had to ask him for money. And disturbed.

“Of course, dear. Why wouldn’t it be? I told you I’ve always been conservative with my investments, so the market dips haven’t affected me as much as others.”

“But Frank said…” I paused, my gaze traveling around the house I grew up in, the one I worried all week my mother might lose. Thoughts clicked and slotted into place like I was completing a Rubik’s Cube. Mom’s house had been paid off since she received the insurance settlement for Dad’s car accident. Click. She had only recently retired from her administrative position at the bank after almost twenty years. Click. And then there was the inheritance Gram left her. Click.

“You’ve never had to borrow money?” I asked, carefully selecting my words.

“Of course not,” she said, sounding offended.

I searched her face, lightly lined with life’s stresses, and could only conclude she was telling the truth. My husband had lied to me. And not just your run of the mill “Dinner was delicious” when it was horrible kind of lie, either.

“Is his business finally rubbing off on you?” Mom asked with an amused smile. “Are you worried about the markets now too?”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t even move. My world had teetered and then tipped. I suddenly knew how disoriented people were in the Middle Ages when they discovered the Americas. My world had shifted and went against everything I knew.

“Are you okay, Rose?” she asked when I didn’t respond.

“I need to get home,” I said, forcing myself out of the chair.

Once down the hall, I focused on shoving my feet into flip-flops, desperate to flee.

“Are you sure everything is all right?”

“Everything’s fine, Mom,” I said, bobbing my head and attempting to exude sunny cheerfulness while kicking at my uncooperative footwear. I was lying. But how could I explain how devastating the few sentences we’d just exchanged were when I wasn’t sure I understood them myself? I avoided looking at her. I’d never been a good liar, never been able to hide anything. Unlike my husband.

My thoughts reproduced faster than fruit flies. Frank had already lied to me about where the money went, but what if his deceit spanned more than the large withdrawals from our bank account? Could he be involved in some kind of Ponzi scheme? He did work in the finance industry. But then wouldn’t the bank account be padded, not plundered?

I slapped my palm against the wall to protect against the ceramic tiles which suddenly buckled and shifted like a fun house floor.

“Has Frank ever asked you for money?” I asked, my heart revving in my chest like an Indy 500 car.

Mom shook her head, her eyes wide. “Heavens no. What’s going on, Rose?”

My breath whooshed out like a punctured tire. I curled my hand against the wall before pressing it flat and shoving off to kiss her cheek. “I just wanted to make sure you and Frank don’t ever leave me out of the loop if something’s wrong. I saw a talk show the other day. You wouldn’t believe what some families forget to tell each other,” I babbled while waving my hand around.