The secret was not some hidden account or a second life. Nick had used my belongings as money for his sister and lied to both of us to do it. He had counted on my not making a scene after the clothes were already gone.
I looked at the bags, then at him. “Why didn’t you ask me?”
He shifted his weight. “Because I knew you’d say no.”
That was the first direct answer he had given me.
“Then you knew I hadn’t agreed.”
“I thought you’d understand once you knew how much Tara needed help.”
“You didn’t tell me she needed money. You gave her my things and said she needed clothes.”
“She’s pregnant, Anna. She’s on her own. I was trying to help.”
“You could have asked me. You could have asked what I could spare. I offered to give her clothes after Nora was born.”
