She frowned.

“For eight people?”

“Patrick can make eggs.”

Robert entered carrying two mugs.

“I’ll put the kettle on.”

She frowned.

Linda looked at him.

“Robert, you’re supposed to be resting.”

“I’ve been sitting down since yesterday.”

He reached for the bread.

“We should’ve stayed at that hotel.”

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

I turned.

“What hotel?”

Robert paused.

“The one we looked at before coming.”

Linda waved her hand.

“What hotel?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“It matters to me,” I said.

Robert set the bread down.

“We offered to book rooms. Patrick insisted we’d be more comfortable here.”

I looked at Linda.

“You were willing to pay?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“Of course. We weren’t expecting you to cover accommodation.”

“Then why are you sleeping in my bedroom?”

Linda glanced away.

“Patrick said you wanted us here.”

Kevin entered, fastening his watch.

“Then why are you sleeping in my bedroom?”

“He told me the same thing.”

I faced him.

“Do you still have that message?”

“Probably. Why?”

“Because I’d like to read it.”

“Probably. Why?”

He hesitated, then opened his phone.

The message was from Thursday.

“Don’t waste money on rooms. Clarissa always complains at first. Once everyone’s here, she’ll get over it. I know how to handle my wife.”

I handed Kevin his phone.

“Don’t waste money on rooms.”

“Thank you.”

Linda looked troubled.

“Patrick was only trying to save us money.”

“With my bedroom and my weekend?”

Robert pulled out a chair.

“I think we should call him.”

“Thank you.”

“Not yet,” I said.

For once, I wanted to decide what happened next.

***

Patrick had gone out to collect something Linda wanted and planned to have lunch before returning.

I went into our bedroom and opened our joint savings account.

I wanted to decide what happened next.

Patrick earned more than I did. He contributed most of the money and often called it his savings.

But the account belonged to both of us.

We’d agreed to discuss large expenses before spending anything.

I knew what I was considering would break that agreement.

Patrick earned more than I did.

I also knew Patrick had just broken a far more personal one.

We’d spent almost two years saving for a larger apartment.

One expensive night could push our move further out of reach.

I called the hotel anyway.

“Do you have three rooms available tonight?”

I called the hotel anyway.