\u201cI am trying to make it about your father,\u201d I replied. \u201cYour family turns every dinner into a free buffet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas sighed heavily. \u201cI will talk to Chloe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone, Lucas,\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to announce that my wife will not pay?\u201d Lucas asked in disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to tell the adults that they are responsible for their own households,\u201d I clarified.<\/p>\n
He pulled his tie tighter. \u201cI will handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d I pressed. \u201cWill you text them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will speak to them when we arrive,\u201d Lucas insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore they order?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Lucas replied, picking up his jacket. \u201cI know how to speak to my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was not a fully reassuring answer, but it was the last chance I gave him. Aaron was already at the restaurant when we arrived, and he gave me a warm hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did not need to choose somewhere this fancy, Samantha,\u201d Aaron said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not,\u201d I said, looking over at Chloe.<\/p>\n
Aaron glanced at Chloe as well. \u201cI thought so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe waved from the center of the table. \u201cCome on, Dad, it is your birthday!\u201d<\/p>\n
soft-spoken Mary, Lucas\u2019s mother, kissed my cheek and asked about work. Neither she nor Aaron had ever called me a wallet, but they had watched me pay often enough to know the pattern.<\/p>\n
I looked at Lucas and whispered, \u201cAre you going to tell them?\u201d<\/p>\n
He adjusted his chair nervously. \u201cIn a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said before anyone ordered,\u201d I reminded him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSamantha, people are still sitting down, so be reasonable,\u201d Lucas murmured before greeting everyone and opening his menu.<\/p>\n
The promised minute never came. The waiter had barely handed out the menus when Chloe raised one finger toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree shrimp cocktails, two bottles of your best red wine, and extra bread,\u201d Chloe announced loudly.<\/p>\n
Aaron lowered his menu in surprise. \u201cThat sounds like a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is your birthday, Dad,\u201d Chloe insisted, then smiled at me. \u201cBesides, our walking credit card finally got that promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not get a promotion,\u201d I corrected her immediately.<\/p>\n
Chloe blinked in confusion. \u201cReally? Lucas said things were going great.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to my husband. \u201cDid you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas stared at the steak list. \u201cShe misunderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few relatives laughed anyway, treating the exchange like a regular joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to correct the rest?\u201d I asked Lucas quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is harmless,\u201d he whispered back. \u201cLeave it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe leaned toward her sons. \u201cGet whatever you want, boys, because Grandpa only turns sixty-five once.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I get the biggest steak?\u201d one of her sons asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdd lobster,\u201d Chloe encouraged. \u201cTonight is covered.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Lucas, but he ordered his expensive ribeye without meeting my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd for you, ma\u2019am?\u201d the waiter asked me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHouse salad, baked potato, and water,\u201d I said simply.<\/p>\n
Chloe laughed out loud. \u201cAt a steakhouse?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I am paying for,\u201d I replied coolly.<\/p>\n
Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his chair. \u201cSamantha\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood up from the table. \u201cExcuse me, I am going to the restroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of going to the restroom, I walked straight to the waiter near the kitchen entrance. \u201cSeparate checks, please. We will cover Aaron and Mary, who are seated across from us, but no one else.\u201d<\/p>\n
The waiter nodded professionally. \u201cUnderstood, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 3: The Unraveling<\/b><\/p>\n
I returned to the table with my heart pounding, but I remained calm while eating my simple salad. Chloe ordered another bottle of wine while Lucas completely avoided my eyes, but I was not going to rescue anyone from the consequences they had earned.<\/p>\n
After the plates were cleared, Aaron set down his napkin. \u201cThis was more than I needed, but I am glad everyone is here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I reached into my purse and pulled out a document folder. \u201cLucas, I brought something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at the envelope nervously. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it,\u201d I instructed.<\/p>\n
He pulled out the printed plane tickets to Miami, and his face changed at once.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre these ours?\u201d Lucas asked, smiling for a brief second.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were,\u201d I stated. \u201cI bought them months ago for our anniversary, and I was saving for the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas folded the pages quickly. \u201cSamantha, not now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hotel money paid for your family\u2019s last dinner,\u201d I revealed clearly.<\/p>\n
Mary turned toward him in shock. \u201cWhat does she mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe card balance was high,\u201d Lucas tried to explain. \u201cI was putting the money back after my bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou took it without asking me,\u201d I said, ensuring the truth was out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was fixing a bill,\u201d Lucas argued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were fixing the result of staying quiet,\u201d I countered.<\/p>\n
Chloe put down her glass heavily. \u201cWhy are we discussing your marriage at Dad\u2019s birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause, Chloe, you made my money part of dinner before we had even ordered,\u201d I fired back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never forced you to pay,\u201d Chloe claimed defensively.<\/p>\n