Not I want to discuss.
I’ve made a decision.
I pulled out the empty chair beside the table but remained standing behind it.
“All right.”
“Starting next month, we’re changing the way money is handled.”
“We are?”
“Yes.”
“What’s changing?”
“Both salaries go directly into the joint account.”
“All of both salaries?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And I’ll manage the household account.”
I waited.
Nothing followed.
“That’s the plan?”
Lauren nodded.
“What exactly does ‘manage’ mean?”
“I’ll handle budgeting and allocation.”
“Allocation to what?”
“Bills, savings, household goals.”
“And my personal expenses?”
“You’ll have money transferred into your personal account each month.”
I stared at her.
“How much?”
“We haven’t settled on the exact amount.”
“We?”
A brief silence.
I looked at Melissa.
Then Brooke.
Then Lauren.
“Who is ‘we’?”
Lauren’s face tightened.
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m increasingly unsure.”
“You and me.”
“Then why do Melissa and Brooke know about the amount before I do?”
Melissa leaned forward.
“Eric, she’s not trying to control you.”
I looked at her.
“Excellent. We have translation services.”
Lauren closed her eyes briefly.
“Could you stop making jokes for five minutes?”