“What you told Dr. Park.”
Maya went still.
“She didn’t tell you everything.”
“No.”
“I told her some things were private.”
“And they can stay private.”
Maya studied him.
“You’re not going to ask?”
“Not unless you want to tell me.”
She closed the laptop.
Marcus continued.
“I also need you to know something.”
“Okay.”
“You are not responsible for whether I am happy.”
Maya stared.
“You are not responsible for my marriage.”
Tears formed in her eyes.
“You are not responsible for whether this house is peaceful.”
Marcus swallowed.
“And you never have to become easier to keep me.”
Maya began crying.
He moved toward the bed.
She let him sit beside her.
“Did she tell you that?”
Maya nodded.
“Which part?”
“That you were happier.”
“With Vanessa?”
“Yes.”
“She said after Mom died you were sad all the time.”
“That part is true.”
“And then she said she fixed it.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Maya continued.
“She said if I kept bringing Mom into everything, I was trying to make you sad again.”
“Oh, baby.”
“I didn’t want to.”
He pulled her into his arms.
“You never made me sad by loving your mother.”
“I made you cry.”
“Yes.”
Maya pulled back.
“See?”
Marcus almost smiled.
“Missing someone can hurt and still be something you want.”
She frowned.
“That sounds stupid.”
“It is.”
“Adults are weird.”
“Extremely.”
She leaned against him.
After a minute she whispered, “Are you going to divorce her?”
Marcus did not want to place the decision on Maya.
“I am deciding what happens next.”
“You should.”
He looked down.
“Why?”
“She cut the dress.”
“Yes.”
“And she lies.”
Marcus felt something.
“What lies?”
Maya hesitated.
“About money.”
His attention sharpened.
“What money?”
Maya looked uncomfortable.
“Maybe I’m wrong.”
“Tell me.”
“Vanessa always uses your office printer.”
“That isn’t strange.”
“She printed bank things.”
“What bank things?”
“I don’t know.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
Maya thought.
“I went in because I needed tape. She got mad and closed everything.”
“Did you read it?”
“Only the top.”
“What did it say?”
Maya searched her memory.
“Brooks Family Education Trust.”
Marcus stopped breathing.
There were several Brooks trusts.