Chapter 6 - THE SECOND PHONE
Daniel agreed to attend marriage counseling.
He also agreed to provide financial transparency.
At least, that's what he said.
Two weeks later, I returned home to collect winter clothes.
He was at work.
The house was quiet.
I entered the bedroom.
Opened the closet.
And found a second phone.
It was tucked inside an old shoebox beneath Daniel's golf clothes.
I stared.
Then stepped back.
I didn't try to unlock it.
Instead, I photographed where it was and called Margaret.
She advised me to avoid accessing accounts or devices without authorization and to discuss appropriate discovery procedures if we pursued divorce.
I left the phone where it was.
But its existence changed something.
Daniel had promised transparency.
He was still hiding things.
***
At our next counseling session, I asked him about it.
He looked startled.
“A second phone?”
“Yes.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“It's for work.”
“Then why is it hidden in a shoebox?”
He looked toward the therapist.
Dr. Helen Morris remained calm.
“Daniel, can you answer Amelia's question directly?”
He sighed.
“I used it to talk to Claire.”
I felt cold.
“Are you still using it?”
“No.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
He looked down.
“I was afraid.”
I stared.
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
I shook my head.
“You were more afraid of consequences than you were committed to honesty.”
Silence.
Dr. Morris looked at Daniel.
“Can you hear the distinction she's making?”
He nodded.
But I wasn't sure he understood.
***
That night, I slept in the guest bedroom.
Daniel knocked once.
“Amelia?”
I closed my eyes.
“Yes?”
“Can we talk?”
“Not tonight.”
A pause.
Then:
“Okay.”
His footsteps retreated.
I lay awake.
For months, I'd begged him to come toward me.
Now that he wanted to, I couldn't bear the thought of him touching me.
The irony was cruel.
***
The next morning, I called Margaret.
“I think I want a divorce.”
She was quiet.
Then:
“Do you want to schedule a meeting?”
“Yes.”
I looked toward the bedroom door.
May you like
My marriage wasn't ending because Daniel had made one mistake.
It was ending because every opportunity to tell the truth had become another lie.
