Chapter 3: The Secret in the Phone
The woman on the phone refused to tell me everything immediately.
That made me even more nervous.
“Who are you?”” I asked again.
The voice hesitated.
“My name is Linda. I used to work with Claire.””
“Used to?””
“Yes.””
I walked toward the backyard, away from my mother.
“Why are you calling me?””
Linda took a deep breath.
“Because I saw what she did to someone else before.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Someone else?””
“I don’t know how much you know about your wife’s past.””
I stared through the glass door.
Inside, my mother sat quietly at the kitchen table.
Waiting.
“Tell me.””
Linda lowered her voice.
“Claire knows exactly how to make people feel guilty.””
The sentence bothered me.
Because it sounded familiar.
“She’s charming when people are watching,” Linda continued.
“But when nobody is around…”
She stopped.
“When nobody is around, what?””
“I think your mother isn’t the first person she’s taken advantage of.””
My heart sank.
“Where can I meet you?””
There was a long pause.
“Tonight. A coffee shop near your office.””
After the call ended, I stood there for several minutes.
My entire marriage suddenly felt like a house with hidden rooms.
Rooms I had never opened.
When I returned inside, my mother looked at me.
“Who was that?””
I sat down.
“Someone who knows Claire.””
Her face changed.
“Daniel, don’t.””
I looked at her.
“Don’t what?””
“Don’t destroy your life because of me.””
I shook my head.
“You still don’t understand.””
She looked confused.
“This isn’t about you being a problem.””
I reached across the table and held her hand.
“You are the reason I know what love looks like.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
That afternoon, I met Linda.
She was younger than I expected.
Maybe in her forties.
She sat across from me holding a folder.
“I didn’t want to get involved,” she said.
“Then why are you here?””
She looked down.
“Because I was once the person nobody defended.””
She pushed the folder toward me.
Inside were printed messages.
Emails.
Photos.
I looked through them.
“What is this?””
“Proof.””
My eyes moved across the pages.
The messages were between Claire and several people.
The first ones seemed normal.
Then I noticed the pattern.
Claire asking for favors.
Claire manipulating situations.
Claire making people feel responsible for her happiness.
“She did this at work,” Linda explained.
“She would become close to someone, make them feel special, then slowly convince them to do things for her.””
I looked up.
“And my mother?””
Linda nodded sadly.
“She saw your mother as someone easy to control.””
My stomach twisted.
“No.””
Linda didn’t look away.
“Daniel, your wife didn’t invite your mother to help because she needed help.””
She tapped the folder.
“She invited her because she knew your mother wouldn’t say no.””
I left the coffee shop feeling numb.
When I arrived home, Claire was standing in the driveway.
She looked surprised.
“You’re back.””
I stared at her.
“Why did you make my mother clean?””
Her expression changed.
“I already told you.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m asking why.””
She crossed her arms.
“You’re obsessed with this.””
“Answer me.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Claire laughed softly.
“You know what your problem is?””
I said nothing.
“You think everyone is as innocent as your mother.””
The words hit me.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
She walked closer.
“Daniel, your mother knows exactly how to make you feel guilty.””
I felt anger rising.
“Stop.””
“No, you need to hear this.””
She pointed toward the house.
“She plays the victim every time.””
I stared at her.
“Did she ask you to make her clean?””
Claire looked away.
That tiny movement told me everything.
“Did she?””
“No.””
The answer came quietly.
I felt my chest tighten.
“So she didn’t ask.””
Claire became defensive.
“She wanted to feel useful.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You really believe that?””
She grabbed her purse.
“You’re becoming impossible to talk to.””
“Where are you going?””
“Somewhere I’m appreciated.””
She walked away.
But before she reached the car, my phone buzzed.
A message from Linda.
One sentence.
One photo.
I opened it.
And my blood went cold.
The picture showed Claire standing in my mother’s room.
Holding a document.
A document with my mother’s signature.
May you like
And underneath the photo, Linda had written:
“Daniel, you need to find out what your wife made your mother sign.””
