I waited.
“When I actually looked at the numbers,” he continued, “I finally understood what you were asking.”
“I was asking who was going to pay.”
“I know.”
“It wasn’t complicated.”
“No.”
Then he said something I had waited weeks to hear.
“I knew about your renovation loan. I knew why you needed the rent. And I acted like your concern about money was unreasonable.”
He looked down.
“I was wrong.”
“Why did you tell Vanessa I agreed?”
He was quiet for a long time.
Finally, he answered.
“Because she asked whether she should call you.”
“I know. Why did you stop her?”
He took a breath.
“Because I didn’t want you to say no.”
Everything became very still.
That was the truth.
Not misunderstanding.
Not kindness.
Not confusion.
He knew I might refuse.
So he removed me from the decision.
“I liked being the person Vanessa could call,” he admitted. “I thought you would be angry for a couple of days, but I didn’t think you would actually leave.”
