Chapter 5: The Woman Waiting in Costa Rica
“Don't touch the attachment again.””
Caroline's voice cut through the conference room.
I looked up from my phone.
“What?””
“Forward the entire email to me. Don't edit it, don't reply, and don't click anything else.””
Rachel stared at the photograph.
James.
Linda.
The blonde woman.
Vanessa Cole.
Her arm around my husband's waist.
My stomach twisted.
I had spent the last several hours learning that my husband had canceled my vacation ticket, forged documents involving my house, moved money into a secret company, and prepared divorce papers behind my back.
Somehow, seeing another woman's hand resting on him hurt differently.
Money could be traced.
Documents could be challenged.
A forged signature could be proven false.
But that photograph?
That went straight through me.
I forwarded both emails to Caroline.
“Can you find out who sent them?””
“Possibly. But don't assume the sender is helping you.””
“Why would someone send this if they weren't?””
“To frighten you. Manipulate you. Push you into confronting James.
Make you click something malicious. We don't know.””
Rachel pointed toward the bank statement.
“But if that's real—”
“Then we verify it independently.””
Caroline zoomed in on the document.
The account showed multiple transfers.
$32,000.
$18,500.
$40,000.
Most had arrived in neat increments over several months.
One sender appeared repeatedly.
*PRS HOLDINGS.*
Parker Residential Services.
My mouth went dry.
“The company.””
Caroline nodded.
“So money goes into Linda and James's company and then into an account James shares with Vanessa.””
“Apparently.””
“Who is she?””
“We'll find out.””
I picked up my phone.
I wanted to call James.
I wanted to say her name and listen to his reaction.
Caroline saw me looking at the screen.
“Don't.””
“I haven't done anything.””
“You're thinking about it.””
“Yes.””
“Don't.””
I set the phone down.
“Then how am I supposed to sit here knowing some woman has a secret bank account with my husband?””
“By remembering that your goal has changed.””
“What goal?””
“This morning, you wanted an explanation.””
She leaned forward.
“Now you need protection.””
That silenced me.
At 6:08 p.m., James's flight landed.
I knew because Sophie texted me.
*We landed!!!*
Then came a picture of Noah making a ridiculous face from his airplane seat.
I smiled despite everything.
*Have fun. Call me tonight. Love you both.*
Three minutes later, James called.
I didn't answer.
Again.
Again.
Then Linda.
I ignored her too.
Finally, a voicemail appeared.
I played it on speaker.
James sounded furious.
“Emily, this has gone far enough. The rental company declined the card, the hotel says they need a new payment method, and Mom's card has a daily limit. Call me immediately.””
Rachel folded her arms.
“No apology.””
“No.””
“No mention of leaving you.””
“No.””
“No explanation.””
“No.””
Caroline said, “Save the voicemail.””
I did.
Another call came.
This time from Sophie.
I answered immediately.
“Hi, sweetheart.””
“Mom!””
Her voice was bright.
For one beautiful second, everything felt normal.
“You should see the hotel! There's a giant waterfall in the lobby!””
“That sounds amazing.””
“And Noah says there's a pool with a slide.””
In the background, Noah yelled, “Two slides!””
I laughed.
“Apparently two slides.””
Then Sophie's voice lowered.
“Mom?””
“Yes?””
“Dad's mad.””
My smile disappeared.
“That's not your problem.””
“Grandma said you canceled the hotel.””
I closed my eyes.
“No, sweetheart.””
“She said you're trying to make us come home.””
“I'm not.””
“Are you mad we're here?””
“Never at you.””
I kept my voice gentle.
“You and Noah didn't do anything wrong. I want you to have fun.””
“Okay.””
Then Linda's voice appeared in the background.
“Sophie, give me that.””
“Grandma—”
The phone shifted.
Then Linda was on the line.
“You need to stop involving the children.””
I almost laughed at the hypocrisy.
“I didn't call them.””
“You're confusing Sophie.””
“You told her I canceled the hotel.””
“You froze the card.””
“My card.””
“Our family's card.””
“No, Linda. Mine.””
Her voice dropped.
“You are enjoying this.””
“Enjoying what?””
“Humiliating us.””
The word almost made me smile.
“You mean the way you left me standing on my porch?””
“That was unfortunate.””
“Canceling my ticket three weeks ago was unfortunate?””
Silence.
I continued.
“Buying yourself jewelry with my credit card was unfortunate?””
“James gave me that bracelet.””
“Yes. I noticed.””
“You've always been jealous of our relationship.””
I genuinely didn't know how to respond.
“Your relationship with your son?””
“You've spent six years trying to separate him from his family.””
“I've spent six years raising his children.””
“You babysat them.””
My chest tightened.
I heard Rachel inhale sharply.
I forced myself to stay calm.
“Put Sophie back on.””
“She's going to dinner.””
“Then tell her I love her.””
“I think you've said enough for today.””
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
My hands shook.
Rachel stood.
“I hate that woman.””
Caroline remained calm.
“Document the call.””
So I did.
Every sentence.
Every insult.
Every attempt to turn the children against me.
At 6:40, Caroline's assistant knocked and entered.
She handed Caroline several printed pages.
“We found Vanessa Cole.””
My heart jumped.
Caroline read silently.
“Who is she?””
She didn't answer immediately.
“Caroline.””
She looked up.
“Vanessa is thirty-seven. American citizen. Formerly Vanessa Cole-Mercer. Divorced five years ago.””
“And?””
“She owns a consulting company registered in Florida.””
“What kind?””
“International relocation and asset management.””
Rachel looked at me.
“Relocation?””
My stomach tightened.
“Costa Rica.””
Caroline nodded.
“She appears to spend significant time there.””
The room went quiet.
I remembered James asking me where I would live for a year.
I remembered him saying Costa Rica.
A joke over dinner.
Except now it wasn't funny.
“Does she know James?””
“The photograph suggests she does.””
“Can we find more?””
“We can investigate publicly available records. Anything beyond that needs to be done properly.””
I nodded.
Then Caroline turned another page.
“There's something else.””
Of course there was.
“What?””
“Vanessa's company received money from Parker Residential Services.””
“How much?””
“Public records don't show bank transfers. But the statement you received does.””
She pointed.
A payment I had overlooked.
*COLE GLOBAL CONSULTING — $75,000.*
My stomach turned.
“That came from our money?””
“We don't know yet.””
“I gave James access to the travel card. We had joint savings. If he's been moving money—”
“Then we'll trace what we legally can.””
I stared at Vanessa's photograph.
She was beautiful.
Not in an exaggerated way.
Polished.
Confident.
The kind of woman who looked like she always knew which room she belonged in.
“Do you think he's having an affair?””
Rachel looked at Caroline.
Caroline looked at me.
“I think you should prepare yourself for the possibility.””
The answer hurt more than a simple yes.
My phone buzzed.
A message from James.
*James: We need the card active for the hotel deposit.*
Then:
*James: The kids are exhausted. Stop punishing them.*
I typed before Caroline could stop me.
*Use the $487,214 you have with Vanessa Cole.*
My thumb hovered.
Rachel whispered, “Emily.””
Caroline said, “Don't send it.””
I stared at the message.
Then deleted it.
James didn't know how much I knew.
That was my advantage.
I wasn't giving it away.
At 7:15, we left Caroline's office.
Rachel drove because I didn't trust myself behind the wheel.
Halfway home, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
My heart jumped.
Melissa?
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice.
“Mrs. Parker?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Daniel Reeves. I'm a real estate broker.””
I sat straighter.
“What can I do for you?””
There was a pause.
“I think I owe you an apology.””
Rachel glanced at me.
“Why?””
“I've been working with your husband.””
My stomach dropped.
“On the sale of my house?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know I owned it?””
“No.””
His answer came quickly.
“James represented himself as the owner. He provided documentation showing the property had been transferred to him.””
“The forged quitclaim deed.””
“I learned there may be a problem with that document this afternoon.””
“How?””
“Linda Parker called me.””
Of course.
“What did she say?””
“She told me the transaction was being delayed because you were having what she called an emotional episode.””
I laughed once.
Daniel sounded uncomfortable.
“She asked me to avoid communicating with you.””
“And instead you called me.””
“Because something didn't feel right.””
“What?””
“The buyers.””
I went still.
“What about them?””
“They aren't ordinary buyers.””
Rachel pulled into our driveway but didn't turn off the engine.
“Who are they?””
“The purchasing entity is an LLC.””
“Name?””
“Blue Harbor Investments.””
I wrote it down.
“Who owns it?””
“That information wasn't disclosed to me.””
“Then what bothered you?””
Daniel hesitated.
“James wasn't negotiating like someone trying to get the best price.””
“What does that mean?””
“He insisted on accepting an offer significantly below market value.””
“How low?””
“The proposed purchase price is six hundred fifty thousand.””
My jaw dropped.
Our house was worth over nine hundred thousand.
“Why would he do that?””
“I asked.””
“And?””
“He said speed mattered more than price.””
“Because he planned to leave.””
“I don't know.””
Then Daniel said something that made me sit completely still.
“The buyer also requested that most of the proceeds be wired directly to an international account after closing.””
Costa Rica.
I didn't need him to say it.
I already knew.
“Daniel, send everything to my attorney.””
I gave him Caroline's information.
“I will.””
“And don't tell James you called me.””
“I understand.””
I ended the call.
Rachel shut off the engine.
For several seconds, we sat in silence.
Then she said, “He was going to sell your house cheap, take the money, and leave.””
“With Vanessa.””
“Maybe.””
But I didn't believe maybe anymore.
We walked inside.
The house was dark.
Quiet.
I turned on the kitchen light.
Nothing had changed.
James's coffee mug was still beside the sink.
Noah's backpack still hung from the chair.
Sophie's drawing was still on the refrigerator.
Normal things.
Evidence of a normal family.
Except the family had never been as normal as I thought.
At 8:03, Sophie video-called me.
I answered.
Her face filled the screen.
“Mom!””
Behind her was a beautiful hotel room.
Noah jumped onto one of the beds.
“Look!””
I smiled.
“Very fancy.””
Then I saw someone move in the background.
A woman.
Blonde.
My smile vanished.
She walked past the open balcony doors carrying a glass of wine.
I knew that face.
Vanessa.
My heart stopped.
“Sophie.””
“Yeah?””
“Who is that woman?””
She turned.
“Oh, Vanessa?””
The casual way she said the name nearly destroyed me.
“You know her?””
“Yeah.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“How?””
Sophie looked confused.
“Grandma knows her.””
Vanessa stepped out of view.
Then James appeared.
He saw me on the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
“Sophie.””
She looked up.
“What?””
“Give me the phone.””
“But I'm talking to Mom.””
“Now.””
He took it.
For half a second, neither of us spoke.
I could hear music from somewhere outside.
People laughing.
Ocean waves.
Then James said quietly:
“Emily, don't start.””
I looked at my husband.
Behind him, Vanessa walked past again.
This time she stopped.
She rested her hand on his shoulder.
Like she had done it a thousand times.
James immediately stepped away.
Too late.
I had seen it.
He knew I had seen it.
“Who is she?”” I asked.
His jaw tightened.
“A friend of my mother's.””
“Put Sophie back on.””
“Emily.””
“Put my daughter back on the phone.””
Vanessa whispered something behind him.
James covered the microphone.
They argued quietly.
Then Sophie took the phone again.
“Mom?””
“Hi, sweetheart.””
I forced myself to breathe.
“I love you.””
“I love you too.””
“Keep your tablet charged, okay?””
“Okay.””
“And keep it with you.””
James said something from across the room.
Sophie frowned.
“I have to go.””
“That's okay.””
Then she smiled.
“Oh! I forgot.””
“What?””
“Grandma said we're not staying here the whole week anymore.””
Every nerve in my body went cold.
“What do you mean?””
“We're going somewhere else.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
She turned away from the camera.
“Dad, where are we going after this?””
I heard movement.
James's face suddenly appeared.
He reached for the tablet.
But before the screen went black, Noah shouted from behind him:
“Costa Rica!””
The call ended.
I stood in my kitchen staring at the dead screen.
May you like
They hadn't taken my children on vacation.
They were taking them out of the country.
