Renata was standing at the kitchen island with several grocery bags beside her.
“I simplified my finances,” I said.
“You canceled everything?”
“I removed you from accounts that belong to me.”
Renata’s shoulders tightened.
“This is because of the lock.”
“No,” I said. “The lock simply helped me understand the problem.”
I opened my handbag and placed one sheet of paper on the island.
Matias looked down.
It was a household expense summary I had made that afternoon. Property taxes. Homeowners insurance. Electricity. Water. Gas. Internet. Landscaping. Routine repairs. Annual maintenance. At the bottom was the average monthly cost of keeping that house running.
Renata leaned closer.
Her expression changed.
“This can’t be right.”
“It is.”
Matias stared at the number.
“You pay all of this?”
“I always have.”
The kitchen suddenly felt quieter than the library had earlier that day. I rested one hand on the paper.