He did not answer.
I asked Elaine to stay while I told Nick I wanted him to go somewhere else for the time being. I was thirty-four weeks pregnant, still working, and no longer willing to have him explain my own permission to me.
“Where am I supposed to go?” he said.
“You can stay with your mother,” Elaine said. She did not sound pleased, but she did not take it back.
Nick looked from her to me. “You want me out over clothes?”
“I want you out because you knew I hadn’t agreed and told Tara I had. The clothes are how I found out.”
He started to argue, then looked at the phone on the table. “I’ll go for now.”
“Take what you need,” I said. “We can talk again when I’m ready.”
He left with Elaine. She stayed long enough to make sure I had the bags and the list. I did not ask her to choose sides in my marriage. I asked her to stand there while I said what I needed to say, and she did.
