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She was sitting on the couch an hour later with her second ice pack on her face trying to figure out what she was going to do.
She had money in an account that Tanner didn’t know about. One she’d had before they met and she’d never told him. For the past few years she’d kept putting little bits of money in there without his knowledge.
It’d be enough for her to move out. She could stop her check from going into his account. She didn’t want anything of his anyway.
The front door opened. She’d hoped she could be gone before Tanner returned. Normally when they fought that was what he did. He’d leave and come back when she was working and they wouldn’t have to face each other again for a day or so.
He’d be nice and sweet to her. Apologize and things would be good for a month or longer. Then they’d start up all over again.
“Liz, are you okay?”
She didn’t expect to see her mother-in-law standing there. She moved the ice pack down but knew there would be a mark on her face from Tanner’s hand.
“Yeah. Just tripped.”
“No,” Donna Carter said. “You didn’t. Let’s go right now.”
“Where?” she asked. Her mother-in-law had never liked her that much. At least she didn’t think so.
“You’re leaving.”
“I’ve got time before I go to work,” she argued.
“No,” Donna said. “You’re leaving Tanner. Enough is enough. He’s out getting drunk with his brother right now. He won’t come home for hours. That’s enough time for you to pack everything you care about and get it in your car. I’ll give you money.”
This was all too much. “Where am I going to go?”
“I’m not sitting around anymore and watching this.” Donna pulled her phone out of her purse. “Do you still have that account that Tanner knows nothing about?”
Her jaw dropped. She didn’t know how Donna knew that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do,” Donna said. “Yes or no on the account?” Donna’s lips were firm.
“Yes,” Liz said quietly.
“I’m transferring one hundred thousand dollars into it right now.”
“What?”
Her mother-in-law was still pushing buttons, then stopped. “Look right now. It’s there.”
She pulled her phone out and logged in and was stunned to see the money sitting there. “How did you do that? How did you know?”
Donna waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. Up. Now. Let’s get you packed and out of here and don’t come back. Don’t say a word of this night to anyone.”
Liz ran to her room to find boxes and bags. There were some in another closet, but right now she’d just grab everything off the hangers if she could and toss them in her backseat.
Donna was on her heels and snatching clothes out of the closet. Shoes too. Things were going into garbage bags in a haphazard mess.
“Why are you protecting him?”
Donna stopped and looked at her. “I’m not. I’m protecting you.”
“By buying me to not say a word about what Tanner does? And how did you even know?”
“We can talk and pack. He’s always been a troubled child that thought he could get away with murder thanks to his father spoiling the boys. I don’t want to have to worry about that. Murder. I’d never be able to live with myself. I didn’t expect to see the mark on your face and it’s enough for me to do this now. I’ve seen the signs slowly over the years. You could say preparing me for this day but hoping and praying it wouldn’t come.”
Guess she wasn’t doing too good of a job of hiding anything.
