All these years.
Every last cent that came into our home had become what he called a "good deed," his charitable offering.
It all flowed straight into the pockets of that woman and her son.
Every time I argued with him, he trotted out the same righteous speech:
"It's so hard for Roberta, raising a child alone. If they have to scrape by, it'll stunt little Kevin's growth."
"You and our daughter have me to look after you. Don't take your blessings for granted."
"We're building good karma and a good name right now. Hardship first, sweetness later."
He collected his reputation as a great and generous man.
Roberta and her son got the money and the favoritism.
And every bit of the suffering and the swallowed grievance was left to me and our daughter.
At the thought, the bitterness inside me hardened completely.
Seeing me silent for so long, Hubert probably assumed his words had won me over.
His tone eased.
He fished something out of his briefcase and handed it to me.
"All right. I know you're petty and vain, so I brought you a gift."
I looked down.
A half-used bottle of face wash, squeezed nearly flat, without even its outer packaging.
One look and you could tell it was somebody's discarded trash.
"Roberta says she doesn't care for this brand. She only used it a few times, so it's basically new."
"Just make do with it. That way I don't have to give her money for another one."
He said it with the air of a man bestowing charity, as if I'd come out way ahead.
In his eyes, I was supposed to be grateful even for other people's garbage.
The last shred of feeling left in my heart shattered in that moment.
I drew a breath and lifted my eyes to him.
"Hubert, let's get a divorce."
"Let's get a divorce."
My gaze was cold.
My voice so calm it surprised even me.
Hubert visibly froze.
He clearly hadn't expected me to say it. A flicker of panic crossed his face.
He stepped forward to take my hand, but I turned aside and slipped free.
"Honey..."
He frowned, a little frantic, and was about to speak.
His phone suddenly rang.
The ringtone was unmistakable, the special one he'd set just for Roberta.
I laughed at myself inside.
I'd once pestered him to set a special ringtone for me, and he'd been so annoyed.
"Playing these childish little games all day. How immature can you get!"
"I'm a university professor! I won't let you ruin the dignity of an educated man."
I'd thought he was just born stiff and old-fashioned.
Only now did I understand. He simply wasn't willing to make an exception for me.
Hubert glanced at the screen, and his expression turned nervous and tender all at once.
He hurried to answer and stepped out the door.
I could faintly hear him coaxing her in a lowered voice: "Don't cry, Hubert's wife was only joking..."
"I'm coming over to be with you two right now. I'll take little Kevin to the amusement park..."
A few minutes later, he hung up and came back in, his face composed again.
"Something's come up at the school. I have to go."
"What you said earlier, I'll pretend I never heard it. And no more throwing around the word 'divorce' when you're angry."
He shot me a frown, then left without looking back.
Hubert didn't come home all night.
The next day, I got a divorce agreement drawn up by a lawyer.
I was clutching the folder on my way to pick our daughter up from school.
Only to be told that Cynthia had already been picked up by her father.
"Mr. Delgado said he took the day off specially to make up Children's Day with Cynthia. Said they were going out for a big meal."
I let out a cold laugh inside.
So today of all days, he'd suddenly remembered he had a daughter.
I followed the address he'd given and found an upscale buffet restaurant.
But the sight in front of me left me frozen where I stood.
Hubert sat at the head of the table, Roberta on his arm, the two of them laughing and chatting away.
