Chapter 13

In the end, Dennis didn’t tell her. Linda was having such a great time on their date that he didn’t want to ruin her mood.

No, that was a lie. He had chickened out. He didn’t want to lose his wife again so he kept his mouth closed.

He had to find a way to make it right. Then, an idea started forming in his mind. Dennis punched the number of the realtor he had used to buy the house.

“Hello, Grace? Dennis Harris ... I’m fine thank you. Look, I want to put the house I bought back on the market? Priced to sell. And please, remember that Linda doesn’t know about it.”

“Why are you selling it, Dennis?”

“I know this afternoon you are going to show Linda a property that it’s perfect for her Daycare Center. I’m selling the house to help her achieve her dream. I’d like to make it a sell and buy operation.”

“Dennis,” Grace McAllister said cautiously. “You know I’ll help you do whatever you think is right. But I’m going to be the voice of reason here. Just talk to Linda. Make the decision together.”

Dennis shook his head. “You don’t understand. I screwed up. I kept the house a secret for too long. If Linda knows about it we are not going to make it. I need to make things right. The Daycare Center was always her dream. I’m going to do anything in my power to make it happen.”

Grace fumbled for the light switch, finally flipping it on and illuminating the large room. Linda looked around in amazement. The place was just perfect. She swallowed hard, rapidly blinking back the moisture that sprung to her eyes.

“I love it! Have you shown this property to anyone else?”

“Someone showed interested, although I have no current offers.”

“How much are they asking?”

Grace scribbled a number on one of her cards that made Linda inwardly blanch.

“I see,” Linda croaked. “I’m afraid that’s out of my...”

“She’ll take it,” came a gruff voice at the front door.

Linda turned around to find her husband leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

“When did you get here?” Linda smiled at Dennis. “What do you mean by ‘take it’? It’s too much even if I use all our savings.”

Dennis came closer.

“You want it?”

“Yes,” she whispered, turning her back so they could have something that resembled a private conversation. “The place is perfect ... but it’s too expensive. Grace can find me another place within our budget. Or maybe the owner will come down on the price if it doesn’t sell.”

Dennis tipped her chin up. “Linda, look at me.”

She searched his face, her heart racing faster at the amused tilt of his lips.

“I’ve got this. Okay? Go ahead with the operation.”

Linda frowned. “You got this ... exactly how, Dennis?”

Her husband was a careful planner to the extreme, if he told her they could afford the building, then she believed him.

“Do you have a secret stash of money or...?”

Linda looked into Dennis’s face and saw guilt written all over his face. She realized with horror that her words had hit home. He DID have a secret account.

“Oh my God! Dennis, what’s going on? Have you been hiding money from me?”

“What? No, nothing like that.”

“What is it then? I need an explanation,” she demanded hands on her waist.

Grace looked at Dennis and said, “If you don’t tell her, I will.”

His conscience urged him to be honest. Lay everything out there. He heaved a long sigh and said, “I bought you a house.”