The Papers on the Kitchen Table
Chapter 02 - The Papers on the Kitchen Table
David told Caroline to leave.
Anna stopped her.
"No."
Caroline looked confused.
Anna pointed toward a dining chair.
"Sit down."
David frowned.
"Anna."
"I said sit."
Something in her voice made both of them obey.
Anna walked into the kitchen and returned carrying a thick yellow envelope.
She placed it on the table.
David recognized it immediately.
The refinancing documents.
For the past three weeks, he had pressured Anna to sign them.
He claimed interest rates were changing.
He said refinancing would reduce their mortgage payments.
Anna had almost believed him.
Then she noticed something.
The amount.
Their house had less than two hundred thousand dollars remaining on the mortgage.
David wanted to refinance for eight hundred and fifty thousand.
Anna had asked why.
David called it an investment strategy.
Then he became angry when she asked more questions.
That was when Anna started paying attention.
She hired an attorney.
Quietly.
She also contacted the bank.
The truth was worse than she expected.
David wasn't refinancing their home.
He was using it as collateral for a business loan.
A business Anna had never heard of.
Mitchell & Cross Development LLC.
Anna placed the company documents on the table.
Caroline stared at them.
"Cross?"
Anna looked at her.
"That's your last name, isn't it?"
Caroline's face changed.
David stood.
"This isn't what you think."
Anna almost laughed.
"You formed a company with your mistress."
"She's not—"
Caroline interrupted.
"I'm his business partner."
Anna looked directly at her.
"Did business partners usually send messages about replacing wives after anniversaries?"
Caroline looked away.
David slammed his hand on the table.
"Enough."
Anna didn't flinch.
For years, she had flinched.
At his temper.
His silences.
His habit of turning questions into accusations.
Not anymore.
She opened another document.
"Tell Caroline what the eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars was for."
David said nothing.
Caroline looked at him.
"David?"
Anna answered for him.
"A hotel project in Charleston."
Caroline slowly stood.
"That's our project."
"No," Anna said.
"It's mine."
Both of them turned toward her.
Anna pushed one final document across the table.
The deed to the commercial property beneath the proposed hotel.
The owner's name was printed clearly.
ANNA ELIZABETH MITCHELL.
Caroline stared at David.
"You told me you owned that land."
Anna watched the color disappear from her husband's face.
Then she realized something.
May you like
Caroline hadn't come to the house because she was confident.
She had come because David had lied to her too.
