YT YouTube2Text

YouTube2Text → Transcripts → My Husband Set Me Up for $140K Spent on His Ex—Then Opened the Door and Froze at the Woman Inside

My Husband Set Me Up for $140K Spent on His Ex—Then Opened the Door and Froze at the Woman Inside — Transcript

by Secret & Reckoning Tales · 7,664 words · 1,204 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

Open in transcriber Summarize with AI Download SRT/VTT

Full transcript

0:00His assistant had told him everything
0:01was taken care of, Daniel Mercer pushed
0:04open the private dining room door with a
0:06smile. Already prepared to say that his
0:09wife could have saved everyone a lot of
0:12trouble by admitting she was wrong. The
0:14words stopped when he saw who was
0:16sitting at the head of the table. His
0:18mother slid a sheet of paper toward him.
0:22>> The $140,000
0:23you want her to take the blame for? Is
0:26that the money from my house?
0:28Daniel's hand stayed on the door handle.
0:31There was none of the crying he had
0:33expected. Laura sat by the window, her
0:36coat folded over the back of her chair.
0:38She had barely touched the tea in front
0:40of her. Grace Mercer sat in the seat
0:43he'd reserved for himself, wearing a
0:45faded burgundy cardigan. The statement
0:48he'd arranged for Laura to sign lay
0:50beneath her palm. Her old canvas bag
0:53rested against her chair. He turned to
0:56Megan Price, his assistant. Megan had
0:59stopped just inside the door.
1:01>> I didn't get to finish when you called.
1:04Your mom was
1:06>> Who told you to bring her?
1:08>> He raised his voice enough that the
1:10server waiting outside with a tray
1:12looked toward them. Laura answered
1:15before Megan could.
1:17>> I told your mother that the money we
1:18were meeting about might be hers. She
1:21decided to come. Daniel shut the door
1:24and went straight to Grace. He reached
1:26for the paper.
1:28>> "Mom, why are you getting mixed up in
1:29this? Your blood pressure has been
1:31acting up. Let me take you home."
1:35>> Grace held on. The corner folded
1:38diagonally under his fingers, but she
1:40did not release it.
1:41>> Answer me.
1:43>> It's not what you think.
1:45>> Then tell me what it is.
1:47>> Daniel glanced at Laura. She did not
1:50stand to take his mother's bag or step
1:52in with an explanation. She had done
1:55those things so often that he had never
1:57bothered to notice them. Today, with her
2:00remaining in her chair, he found the
2:02entire room difficult to manage. Two
2:06other relatives were there. Grace's
2:08older brother, Robert Ellis, sat beside
2:10his sister. Their younger sister, Helen
2:13Dawson, who had helped look after Daniel
2:16when he was a boy, sat across from them.
2:19Daniel had invited them both. He had
2:22called Robert to say Laura had used
2:24company money she shouldn't have
2:26touched, that he had already found a way
2:28to cover part of it, and that after more
2:31than 20 years of marriage, she still
2:33refused to admit what she had done. He
2:36did not want the family torn apart. He
2:39said he just needed someone she would
2:41listen to. Robert had actually urged him
2:44to be patient. Laura had worked
2:46alongside Daniel for years. he reminded
2:49him. The money mattered, but so did the
2:52person who had shared his life. Daniel
2:54had sighed over the phone.
2:57>> That's why I'm trying to keep this in
2:58the family.
2:59>> It had sounded considerate then. Now,
3:02Grace was asking about her own house
3:04proceeds, and Robert was beginning to
3:07understand why no one outside the family
3:09had been invited. He set down his water
3:12glass.
3:14>> Daniel, you told me this was money Laura
3:16handled through the company.
3:18It is a company accounting matter. It
3:21has nothing to do with mom.
3:23>> How does my money end up in your hands
3:25and suddenly have nothing to do with me?
3:29Daniel pulled out the chair beside her.
3:32>> There were transfers and payments. You
3:34can't explain all of that by waving a
3:36piece of paper around. Go home for now.
3:40When I'm done tonight, we'll sit down
3:42and go through it. Last week you said
3:45the end of the month.
3:47Yesterday you said today. Now you say
3:50tonight.
3:51>> Grace spoke slowly. She had to stop
3:54between sentences, but she didn't let
3:56him interrupt.
3:58>> I asked for enough to put down a year's
4:00rent. I didn't ask you to lay the entire
4:03140 $1,000 on the table.
4:07>> Laura looked up. Grace had not mentioned
4:10that need on the way to the restaurant.
4:12She had only said that when she gave her
4:14son the money from selling the house. He
4:17promised she could have whatever portion
4:19she needed whenever she needed it.
4:22Apparently, getting even a portion back
4:24had become a series of postponed
4:27conversations.
4:28>> I never said I wasn't going to give it
4:30back. Why are you bringing this up in
4:33front of everyone? Laura's upset with
4:36me. If you only listen to her, you'll
4:39make it worse.
4:40Laura placed her cup on its saucer.
4:43>> Then we'll listen to you.
4:45>> Daniel swung toward her.
4:47>> You know my mother's health isn't great.
4:50Why drag her into this? What are you
4:53trying to prove?
4:55>> You invited Robert and Helen to help the
4:57family understand what happened.
5:00Isn't that what you said?
5:02>> That doesn't mean you involve everybody
5:04in everything.
5:06>> Grace's fingers tightened against the
5:07paper. Daniel realized what he had said
5:10and reached for his familiar excuse.
5:14>> Mom, that's not what I meant.
5:16>> Grace straightened the crooked sheet.
5:18She had said the same thing for him too
5:20many times. When Laura came home after
5:23midnight from setting up a wedding and
5:25found Daniel had eaten the dinner he'd
5:28promised to save her, Grace had said he
5:31hadn't meant to be inconsiderate.
5:33He was busy. When Laura's own mother was
5:36hospitalized, Daniel made one visit.
5:39Carrying fruit, Megan had purchased for
5:41him. Grace had excused that, too. "Men
5:45weren't always thoughtful about things
5:46like that," she had said. Now, her son
5:50sat in front of her, telling her he
5:52hadn't meant what he had plainly said. A
5:55light knock came at the door. The server
5:58wanted to know whether to bring the food
5:59in.
6:00>> "Yes, bring it in. Everybody needs to
6:03eat.
6:04We can talk after,"
6:06>> he welcomed the interruption as though
6:08the arrival of dinner might put the
6:11family back into its accustomed places.
6:14The server filled the table with roast
6:16beef, garlic shrimp, baked pasta, and a
6:19platter of broiled fish. They were the
6:22dishes Daniel liked. Helen couldn't
6:24tolerate heavily seasoned food. Grace
6:27had trouble chewing tougher meat. Laura
6:30had mentioned that her stomach was
6:31bothering her when she arrived.
6:34None of that had figured into his order.
6:36Laura studied the plates and remembered
6:38that Daniel had made the reservation
6:41himself. Usually, whoever was paying,
6:44Laura called ahead to check what the
6:47older relatives could eat. She had not
6:50done it this time. Daniel hadn't thought
6:53to ask. Helen transferred a small piece
6:56of fish to Grace's plate.
6:58>> Have something, Grace. This is harder on
7:01an empty stomach. Grace picked up her
7:03fork, separated a bit of fish, then put
7:06the fork down. Daniel took the chance to
7:09draw the paper closer to himself.
7:11Robert, did you actually read what that
7:14says?
7:15>> Robert shook his head.
7:17>> Daniel told me it was just a written
7:19explanation.
7:21>> It says I arranged $140,000 in
7:24unauthorized spending and accept.
7:27Full personal responsibility for it.
7:30full responsibility.
7:32It's a starting point. We have to put
7:35something in writing before we work out
7:36what comes next.
7:38>> Did you tell them I had already admitted
7:40it? Daniel did not answer immediately.
7:44Helen's fork stopped halfway to her
7:46mouth. Before the dinner, he had told
7:48her Laura knew she'd crossed a line, but
7:51was too stubborn to apologize. A few
7:54kind words from Helen, he'd hoped, would
7:56persuade her to be reasonable. Laura
7:58looked from one relative to the other. I
8:01haven't admitted anything and I never
8:04agreed to sign this. If you came to hear
8:06both sides, I'll tell you what I know.
8:09If you came only to watch me apologize,
8:12there's no point in my staying for
8:15dinner.
8:17>> Laura,
8:18>> he said her name in the low warning
8:20voice that usually meant she was
8:23embarrassing him. She bent down and
8:26brought a clear plastic folder out of
8:27her bag instead. There were delivery
8:30slips inside along with papers on which
8:33she'd penciled measurements. Daniel
8:36recognized them. They were from the
8:38drapes and display backdrops at the
8:40bridal showroom. Rebecca Sloan was
8:43preparing to open. He picked up the
8:45teapot and filled his cup. The spout
8:48tapped the rim.
8:49>> You brought workp papers to dinner. Was
8:52that really necessary? I brought the
8:54records of work I actually did.
8:57I called the drapery installer. I
8:59checked the measurements.
9:01I'd like to know how that turned into a
9:03decision by me to spend.
9:06$140,000.
9:08Robert sat a little straighter. Daniel
9:11kept his eyes on the tea.
9:13>> You went to the showroom. You saw the
9:16renovation.
9:18You didn't object.
9:20By the time I got there, they'd torn up
9:22the flooring and ordered the sign. You
9:25sent me because the installer couldn't
9:27get anyone to measure the windows.
9:29>> We were working on the same project.
9:32>> Then why am I the only one being asked
9:34to take responsibility
9:36beyond the closed door? Somebody in
9:38another dining room laughed over a
9:40toast. Glasses clinkedked. Inside, Megan
9:44remained beside the chair nearest the
9:46exit. uncertain whether sitting down
9:49would make things worse.
9:51>> Megan, have a seat. I may need to ask
9:54you a few things.
9:56>> She still has work to do.
9:58>> Megan left one hand on the chair back.
10:01Grace moved her bag from the floor to
10:03her lap.
10:04>> Sit down, Megan.
10:06>> Daniel looked at her, but she had
10:08already opened the bag. From inside, she
10:11took an old metal house number plaque.
10:14The enamel was worn around its edges.
10:17Two empty screw holes showed where it
10:19had been fastened above her front door.
10:21Daniel recognized it at once. On moving
10:24day, he'd told her there was no reason
10:26to keep it. While he was outside taking
10:29a call, she had asked one of the movers
10:32to take it down. Grace laid the plaque
10:35beside the unsigned statement.
10:38>> Laura says there isn't anywhere to live
10:40at that showroom. I didn't believe her.
10:43I want to hear you say it.
10:45Laura turned to Grace. This was the
10:48first she had heard of any plan for her
10:51mother-in-law to live there. You told me
10:53there would be a room upstairs, the one
10:57with the southacing window.
11:00You said when everything was finished, I
11:02could keep an eye on the place during
11:05the day and stay there at night. I
11:08wouldn't have to move from one rental to
11:10another.
11:11>> Daniel's phone lit up on the table.
11:14Rebecca Sloan's name appeared. He let it
11:16ring. Laura looked at the house number
11:18plaque, then at the phone.
11:21>> Call her. She ought to know where the
11:24room is and where the money went.
11:27>> 3 hours earlier, Laura had been in the
11:30event company's warehouse,
11:32cutting damaged petals from a bundle of
11:34hydrangeas. The flowerheads had been
11:37crushed in storage. Some of the outside
11:40petals were beginning to brown, but the
11:42centers were sound. She thought she
11:45could trim them, add some greenery, and
11:47place the arrangement in a far corner of
11:50the welcome table at the next wedding.
11:53From a few feet away, nobody would
11:55notice. Daniel called while the small
11:57scissors were still in her hand.
12:00>> 6:00 tonight, the private room at Maple
12:03Street Grill. We need to talk about what
12:06happens next.
12:07Laura stopped trimming.
12:10>> What happens next with what?
12:12>> We can't keep going like this. You're
12:15unhappy.
12:17I'm worn out. We should sit down
12:19somewhere and talk calmly.
12:21>> She looked at the flowers she was
12:23holding.
12:24>> Just the two of us.
12:26>> Robert and Helen are coming, too.
12:29They're family.
12:31Nobody's trying to hurt you.
12:33>> Something about that answer settled
12:34badly with her. Before she could ask
12:37another question, Daniel continued,
12:40>> "And please don't come in ready to start
12:41a fight. We're all busy. I'd like to
12:45settle what we can tonight."
12:47>> He ended the call before she could
12:49reply. Laura stood between rows of
12:52folding backdrops, ribbon spools,
12:54artificial flower stems, and racks of
12:57linens that had been used at other
13:00people's weddings. For more than a
13:02decade, she had helped make the
13:03beginning of strangers marriages look
13:06easy. For her own marriage, she couldn't
13:09even get her husband to tell her what
13:12they were meeting to discuss. Denise
13:14Carter arrived with lunch in a paper
13:16bag. She was the woman who could tell at
13:19a glance whether Laura had eaten, and
13:21who knew not to ask before putting food
13:24down.
13:25>> Are you done with that call? Eat before
13:28everything gets cold. She moved a roll
13:31of gold wrapping paper to clear a space
13:33on the workt and unpacked two
13:36sandwiches, one with onions and one
13:38without, along with a small container of
13:41soup. Laura reached for the wrapped half
13:43without onions and moved it toward an
13:46empty plastic box. Denise watched her.
13:50>> Saving that for Daniel? Laura stopped.
13:54Daniel disliked onion breath, especially
13:56on days he met clients. Even when he
13:59wasn't going to be home until late,
14:01Laura had always remembered to set
14:04something aside that he could eat before
14:06another meeting. It was a small habit,
14:09easy to mistake for thoughtfulness when
14:11you weren't the one doing it every day.
14:14>> No.
14:15>> She took the sandwich back out for a
14:18moment. She left the box open, then
14:20closed it without putting anything
14:22inside.
14:24Denise didn't tease her. She pulled up a
14:26short stool and began eating. Laura told
14:29her about the 6:00 meeting and the
14:32relatives Daniel had invited. Denise
14:35finished chewing before answering. Do
14:37you know what you want to say? I want to
14:40ask him what he and Rebecca are planning
14:42to do. Then ask it. Don't get halfway
14:45through and end up agreeing to measure
14:48another set of drapes for her. Rebecca
14:51was a woman Daniel had loved before his
14:53marriage, and her return to the area had
14:56brought those old feelings into the
14:58middle of their working lives. Laura
15:01looked at the half-trimmed hydrangeas.
15:04Denise had a reason for saying that. The
15:06last time Laura tried to speak to Daniel
15:08about Rebecca. He said he was exhausted.
15:12The bridal showroom's renovation was
15:14running behind, and Rebecca didn't know
15:17any of the local contractors.
15:20He spoke about missing measurements,
15:22late deliveries, and people waiting
15:24around for answers. Laura never finished
15:27asking her question. The following
15:30morning, she took her tape measure to
15:31the showroom. She had been angry when
15:34she arrived. Then she found demolition
15:37debris across the floor, an installer
15:39waiting for dimensions, and a delivery
15:42truck taking up the space in front. She
15:45started with the windows because someone
15:47had to. By the time she finished, the
15:50chance to say what she'd come to say had
15:52passed. After that, there was always
15:54another job, another delay. Another
15:57reason Daniel didn't want to talk.
16:00Denise unwrapped her second sandwich and
16:02didn't insist on a reply. Laura went
16:05back to the flowers long enough to cut
16:06off the last bruised petals. She put the
16:09usable stems aside. At 4:30, Laura
16:13arrived at Maple Street Grill. She
16:15hadn't come early to investigate
16:17anything. She knew Daniel would accuse
16:19her of being rude if she walked in
16:21after. The relatives had taken their
16:23seats, and she wanted to see whether
16:26there were lighter dishes on the menu.
16:29Robert had been having stomach trouble.
16:31Helen couldn't manage spicy food. Grace
16:34would need something easy to chew if she
16:36came. Although no one had said she was
16:39invited, Megan was arranging glasses in
16:41the private room. Her surprise showed
16:44before she could rearrange her
16:46expression.
16:47>> Laura, you're early. Where's Daniel? He
16:52went out to see someone. He'll be here
16:55later.
16:56>> Four chairs had been grouped around one
16:58end of the table. Another stood by
17:00itself on the side nearest the door. A
17:03pen and a thin set of papers had been
17:05placed in front of that chair. Anyone
17:07who sat there would be facing the
17:09others. Megan slid the papers toward
17:12her.
17:13Daniel wanted you to look at these
17:14first. That way, we won't take up
17:17everybody's time once they arrive. Laura
17:20thought it would be a work handover.
17:22Daniel had mentioned changing
17:24responsibilities at the company. In some
17:26of their unfinished arguments, she read
17:29the first paragraph, then read the
17:31second. The air conditioner was turned
17:34up too high, but her palms grew warm
17:37around the paper. The statement said she
17:40had authorized $140,000 in payments
17:43toward Rebecca's new bridal showroom
17:46without her husband's knowledge. By
17:48signing, she would acknowledge that the
17:50spending was unauthorized,
17:52accept personal responsibility for the
17:54amount, and step away from the daily
17:58management of the wedding business. A
18:00final paragraph said Daniel, out of
18:02regard for their long marriage, would
18:04help address a portion of the debt. She
18:07read it twice. The wording was neat,
18:10factual on its face and filled with
18:12claims. She had never agreed were true.
18:16It did not ask for her account of what
18:18happened. It recorded an answer someone
18:20else had prepared. Who wrote this? It
18:24was typed up at the office. Laura
18:27waited. Daniel gave us the wording. He
18:30told you I agreed to it. He said the two
18:33of you had already discussed everything.
18:36Laura pulled out the isolated chair and
18:39sat down. The paper weighed almost
18:41nothing. It was still difficult to hold
18:44steady. Daniel hadn't called her to hear
18:46what she had to say. He had already
18:49selected which mistake she would admit
18:51to, who would hear her admit it, and
18:54where she would sit while doing so.
18:57Megan reached toward the statement,
18:59uncertain whether to take it back.
19:01>> Maybe we should wait until Daniel gets
19:03here. Laura kept one hand over the
19:06corner.
19:07>> Leave it. I want to read all of it.
19:10>> She did not call her husband. Instead,
19:14she opened the work notebook she carried
19:16between the warehouse and event sites.
19:19The showroom's drapes, fabric displays,
19:21and flower stands had all been things
19:24she helped arrange. She kept dimensions,
19:28installer names, delivery dates, and
19:30notes about which supplier needed a
19:33second call. She also remembered Daniel
19:36phoning from out of town and asking her
19:38to read him. A one-time verification
19:41code that had come through the
19:43business's shared phone. When she'd
19:45asked what it was for, he'd said the
19:47accounting side needed it to release a
19:50renovation payment. Later he asked her
19:53to print several payment confirmations
19:55and place them with the supplier
19:58paperwork. She did that as well. Those
20:01errands had always been presented as
20:03ordinary favors. Now they were being
20:06gathered together under wording that
20:08made her sound like the person who had
20:10ordered the money spent. She had not
20:13chosen the showroom, approved its
20:15budget, or instructed anyone to use
20:18Grace's savings,
20:20but she had touched enough of the
20:22paperwork for Daniel to tell a story.
20:24That might seem plausible to someone who
20:26had never examined it. She turned to a
20:29page on which she'd copied figures from
20:31a company record. There was an incoming
20:33amount of $140,000
20:36recorded under Daniel's name. When she'd
20:39first seen it, she assumed it was
20:40financing he had arranged. The entry
20:43itself didn't identify whose money it
20:45was. She called the company bookkeeper
20:48and asked about the entry.
20:51What's this deposit for?
20:53Daniel said it was a short-term loan
20:55from family.
20:57Which family member? He didn't say.
21:01There was no family member identified in
21:03the accounting note. That was all the
21:05bookkeeper could confirm. Then she
21:08remembered something Grace had asked her
21:10a few days earlier. She wanted to know
21:12whether leaving the money from her old
21:14house with Daniel would inconvenience
21:17his business. Laura had assumed she
21:20meant the modest savings Grace sometimes
21:22asked him to hold while she was between
21:25homes. She'd told Grace not to worry
21:27about inconveniencing anyone with her
21:29own money. Laura sat at the table for
21:32another minute. She had documents
21:34showing payments to the showroom and an
21:36entry showing money Daniel had received.
21:40She still did not have proof they were
21:42the same funds. That distinction
21:44mattered, especially now that a written
21:47accusation was in front of her. She
21:50called Grace. Grace was on the balcony
21:52of her temporary rental picking dead
21:55leaves off two jasmine plants. At the
21:58mention of the proceeds from her house,
22:00she grew guarded. Have you two started
22:03arguing about money again?
22:06I need to ask you one thing first.
22:09How much did you give Daniel when you
22:10sold the house?
22:13140,000.
22:15I kept a few thousand for moving. Why?
22:19Laura closed her eyes briefly. Megan was
22:22still across the table, silent. Laura
22:25didn't order Grace to come to the
22:26restaurant. She didn't say that showing
22:29up would teach Daniel a lesson. She
22:31explained the statement in front of her
22:33line by line. What it accused her of,
22:37what it asked her to accept, and what it
22:40said about her leaving the company. No,
22:44that can't be right. You think he knows?
22:48I'm serious.
22:51When are we done pretending? Daniel told
22:54me he was just keeping the money for
22:55now. He said he wasn't using it for
22:58anything else. I have payment records
23:01from the showroom. I can't say for
23:03certain yet that it's the same money. We
23:06need to ask him. Then you ask him why
23:10call me.
23:11>> Laura looked at the pen waiting beside
23:13the statement.
23:15>> Because it's your money. I can't ask on
23:18your behalf, then choose only the
23:20comforting parts to tell you.
23:22>> There was a long gap on the phone. Grace
23:24finally asked for the restaurant's
23:26address. Laura gave it to her. She
23:29explained that Daniel had also invited
23:31Robert and Helen and that the
23:33conversation might be unpleasant.
23:36Grace could call her son privately
23:38first. She didn't have to put herself
23:40through dinner with everyone.
23:42>> I'm coming. I'll listen while you're
23:45both there.
23:47Then I'll know whose answer I can
23:48believe.
23:49>> Laura could hear that Grace still
23:51trusted her son more. She didn't argue
23:54with that either. After the call, Laura
23:57rang Denise and asked her to collect the
24:00clear folder from the warehouse. Denise
24:03brought it to the restaurant door. Once
24:05she heard what Daniel wanted Laura to
24:07sign, she held her car keys so tightly
24:10the teeth pressed against her palm.
24:13>> I'll come in with you. Not yet. Are you
24:17sure you can do this alone?
24:19>> Laura took the folder and closed its
24:21zipper.
24:22>> I want to finish saying my part first.
24:24At 5:20, Grace arrived. She asked only
24:28when Daniel was coming. She sat down,
24:31took the statement from Laura, and read
24:33each line. When she reached the words
24:36saying Laura had spent the money without
24:38authorization, she lifted her eyes.
24:41Laura did not look away.
24:44>> You don't have to believe me, Mom. Ask
24:46him when he's here.
24:48>> Robert and Helen arrived a little later.
24:50Neither had expected Grace to be
24:52present. They exchanged the usual
24:55greetings, though the arrangement of the
24:57chairs and the papers lying between them
24:59made conversation awkward. At 5:58,
25:03Megan stepped outside to take Daniel's
25:05call.
25:06>> How's it going?
25:08>> She glanced back through the partly
25:09closed door. Laura had asked the server
25:12to remove the extra wine glasses and
25:15bring warm water for Grace. No one had
25:18shouted. Grace was sitting in the chair
25:20Daniel had intended to take. Laura
25:23looked perfectly composed.
25:25>> Mrs. Mercer's taken care of everything.
25:28The seats are arranged, but your mom is
25:32>> good. I'm here.
25:35>> The call ended. Megan hurried into the
25:38hall just as Daniel came around the
25:40corner. He gave her shoulder a pleased
25:42pat.
25:43>> See, I told you she'd come around. Then
25:47he opened the door and nothing after
25:49that happened as he had expected. Now
25:52the fish in the private dining room had
25:54begun to cool. Grace's house number
25:56plaque lay beside the unsigned
25:58statement. Daniel's phone lit up a
26:01second time again showing Rebecca's
26:03name. Laura held out her hand. If you
26:06don't want to call her, I will. Daniel
26:10drew the phone back. After a moment, he
26:13answered and put the call on speaker.
26:15Rebecca's voice was clear enough to
26:17reach every seat at the table.
26:19>> Why is this taking so long? You said she
26:22was ready to admit it.
26:25>> No one reached for the food. Daniel's
26:28fingertip rested near the screen, too
26:30late to end. The call before everyone
26:33heard her. He told Rebecca to come to
26:35the restaurant. When she joined them,
26:38there was an empty chair, untouched
26:40food, and no room left for the version
26:43of events Daniel had promised her. She
26:46set down the small pastry box she had
26:48brought. It stayed closed at her place.
26:51Daniel placed his empty cup firmly on
26:53the table.
26:55>> When did I ever say the money wouldn't
26:57have to be paid back?
26:59>> Rebecca took her fingers off the handle
27:00of the pastry box. You told me family
27:03was helping you get the business going.
27:06You told me to concentrate on setting up
27:08the store and not worry about the
27:11financing.
27:12>> Money you put into a business still has
27:14to be repaid when the business makes a
27:17profit.
27:18>> Then why didn't you tell me it was your
27:20mother's retirement money? Grace looked
27:23directly at her. Would you have refused
27:25it if you'd known?
27:27>> Rebecca opened her mouth. She wanted to
27:30say she would have, but she couldn't
27:32make herself answer immediately. She had
27:35let Daniel take care of the money
27:37because that allowed her to think about
27:40display windows, dresses, and how the
27:42new place would look when customers
27:45walked inside. Daniel answered for her.
27:49>> Mom, she didn't mean anything by it. We
27:52were trying to get a business started.
27:54>> Then he turned to Robert.
27:56>> Let's stop here for tonight.
27:59Everybody knows what's going on now.
28:02I'll put the numbers together tomorrow
28:03and give you an answer.
28:05>> Robert did not move from his chair.
28:08>> When does your mother get her rent
28:10money? I'll work something out. What
28:14specifically?
28:15>> Daniel pressed his fingers against his
28:17forehead. He had always disliked being
28:19asked for details before he'd decided
28:22how to handle a problem. To him,
28:25questions sounded like accusations that
28:27he could not manage his own affairs.
28:31In the past, Laura would have
28:32intervened. She might have told everyone
28:35to eat and give him time to think, then
28:38gone home with him and helped sort
28:39through the mess. This time, she was
28:41putting her delivery slips back in their
28:43original order. She didn't look toward
28:46him. Daniel turned to Rebecca.
28:49>> How much is left in the showroom
28:50account?
28:51>> Rebecca sat up. You know how much?
28:55>> I'm asking how much is there now?
28:58>> A little over $16,000.
29:00After we paid the last of last week's
29:02invoices,
29:04next month's rent is coming up. We still
29:07have lighting and fixtures on order.
29:10>> Cancel anything that hasn't arrived.
29:13Get back whatever deposits they'll
29:15refund.
29:16>> Rebecca stared at him. You chose those
29:19lights.
29:20>> Does that matter right now?
29:22>> Of course it matters. I wanted ordinary
29:25track lighting. You brought people
29:28through and said it looked cheap.
29:31You wanted the wall finishes upgraded,
29:33too. You said customers needed to walk
29:36in and feel we were established.
29:38Daniel loosened his collar.
29:41>> I made suggestions. You were supposed to
29:43keep track of costs.
29:45>> Rebecca's eyes began to fill. He had
29:48once talked about giving her something
29:50she could be proud of, about not making
29:53her settle for a shop that looked as
29:55though it had been put together on
29:57borrowed furniture. Now he sat across
30:00from her, questioning why she hadn't
30:01saved money on changes he had personally
30:04encouraged.
30:06>> You said this was something we were
30:07building together.
30:10>> Together doesn't mean spend every
30:12dollar.
30:13>> There was a soft knock. The server had
30:15returned to ask whether they still
30:17wanted the soup they'd ordered. No one
30:20answered at first. Laura looked up. Yes,
30:24please. And could we have a few clean
30:27bowls? The soup arrived. Laura poured
30:31half a bowl for Grace and another for
30:33Helen. When Robert reached for the
30:35ladle, she handed it to him. Before she
30:39would have served every person and
30:40checked every bowl before making one for
30:43herself. This time she stopped when they
30:46had what they needed. The warm smell of
30:49broth mixed with the food that had sat
30:51on the table too long. For the first
30:53time in several minutes, there was the
30:55ordinary sound of people eating. Daniel
30:59watched his wife and softened his tone.
31:02>> Everyone's hungry. That's why we're
31:04snapping at each other. Let's have
31:06dinner and work through the money
31:08afterward.
31:09>> Laura lifted her own bowl.
31:11>> You work through it. I'm going to eat.
31:14>> He had no ready answer. Rebecca picked
31:17up her phone to check the remaining
31:19payments. While scrolling through
31:21messages about the showroom, she stopped
31:24on an older exchange. It dated from when
31:27she had first moved back to the area and
31:29was unsure whether to stay. Daniel had
31:32written her a long message. He said he'd
31:35spent years living for other people and
31:37wanted to do something that was his own
31:40for once. He said Laura and he were
31:42still connected because of work, but
31:45their marriage was over in everything
31:46but the paperwork. Separating was only a
31:50matter of time. Rebecca slid the phone
31:52toward him.
31:54>> What about these messages? Did I
31:56misunderstand them, too?
31:58>> Daniel glanced at the screen and reached
32:00for it. Rebecca took it back before he
32:03could. Laura did not lean over to read.
32:07She simply asked Rebecca, "He told you
32:09we'd already decided to separate."
32:13Rebecca looked up. Laura turned to her
32:15husband. "Last month, you asked me to
32:18negotiate next year's warehouse lease.
32:21You said our regular clients were
32:23keeping us steady, and if we worked
32:26another 2 years, we could start taking
32:29fewer weekend bookings." You remember
32:32saying that?
32:33>> The spoon in Grace's hand hit the side
32:35of her bowl.
32:36>> People feel differently at different
32:38times. I can't be expected to defend
32:41every sentence I've ever said.
32:43>> For months, Laura had thought she was
32:45waiting on one plain answer. Even an
32:48unpleasant answer would have been better
32:50than guessing every day. She had wanted
32:52Daniel to state what he and Rebecca were
32:54doing so they could decide what happened
32:57next. Now she saw that he was perfectly
33:00capable of giving clear answers. He just
33:02gave a different one to each person
33:05chosen to suit what that person wanted
33:07to hear. He had told Laura they were
33:10planning a quieter working life
33:12together. He had told Rebecca they were
33:14already on their way out of the
33:15marriage. He had told the relatives that
33:18Laura had admitted misconduct. And he'd
33:21told his mother her savings were waiting
33:22safely until she needed them. Megan's
33:25phone buzzed twice. She read the message
33:28and spoke quietly.
33:30>> Are the display stands still being
33:32delivered to the showroom tomorrow? The
33:34rental company says Laura arranged the
33:36truck and it's already on their
33:39schedule.
33:40>> Yes, keep it scheduled.
33:43>> Laura extended her hand. Give me the
33:46phone, Megan. Megan hesitated, then
33:49handed it over. Laura called the rental
33:52company and asked exactly what had been
33:54done. The stands had been reserved, but
33:57nothing was loaded. Cancelling the truck
34:00would mean a small scheduling charge.
34:02She asked for the fee to be itemized and
34:04sent to the showroom. Whether the stands
34:07went out afterward was for the person
34:09actually running that business to
34:11decide. She did not demand that the
34:14supplier wave a charge for work already
34:16done. She did not try to punish people
34:18who had taken an ordinary order. What
34:21mattered was the instruction she gave
34:23before ending the call.
34:25Going forward, don't put showroom
34:27approvals under my name. I won't confirm
34:30their delivery schedule or authorize
34:32their payments. When she put down the
34:35phone, Daniel spoke through his teeth.
34:38>> You're in that much of a hurry to wash
34:39your hands of this.
34:41>> Someone has just asked me to accept
34:43responsibility
34:45for money I didn't authorize.
34:48I'm not going to agree to the next
34:50expense as though nothing happened.
34:52Rebecca looked at her. Laura, I didn't
34:55know he'd drawn up that kind of
34:57statement.
34:58>> Laura turned toward her.
35:00>> But you knew he wanted me to take the
35:02blame.
35:03>> Rebecca said nothing.
35:05>> When you asked whether I was willing to
35:07admit it, did you ever ask whether I'd
35:10actually done it? Rebecca closed her
35:13hands together beneath the table. Laura
35:15let the question stand. She zipped up
35:18the clear folder and returned it to her
35:20bag. Each paper was where it belonged.
35:24Daniel's pages were still spread near
35:26his plate, but she did not straighten
35:29them for him. She hadn't consciously
35:31decided to stop that small act of
35:33tidying. She simply had her own things
35:35to put away. After a while, Daniel
35:39changed direction.
35:41>> Laura, mom can't keep living with this
35:43hanging over her. You still have
35:46savings, don't you?
35:47>> Laura looked up. She knew immediately
35:50which savings he meant.
35:52Take some of that and help her get the
35:54rental settled. I'll sort out the rest
35:56over time. It's not like I'm refusing to
35:59pay you back.
36:01>> Helen let out a low sigh.
36:04If we could at least get Grace settled
36:06somewhere, perhaps the rest. She didn't
36:09finish. Laura was looking at her now.
36:12>> We're all family. This isn't the moment
36:15to be stubborn.
36:17>> Laura didn't answer right away. He
36:19hadn't suddenly remembered her savings
36:21out of concern for his mother. When the
36:24warehouse roof leaked the previous year,
36:26he'd asked what Laura had put away. Two
36:29years earlier, when a client delayed a
36:32large payment, he'd asked again. Some of
36:35what he borrowed from her had come back.
36:37Some had stayed in the category of
36:39things they would calculate later. After
36:42work was less frantic. Tonight, he had
36:44asked her to sign for $140,000.
36:48she hadn't spent. When that failed, he
36:51still expected money to come from her
36:53side of the table. Laura turned to
36:55Grace. Grace was nudging a slice of
36:58ginger to the edge of her soup bowl.
37:01>> Mom, is that what you want, too?
37:03>> Grace stopped moving the spoon.
37:06>> Why put mom on the spot? I'm the one
37:09asking.
37:10>> Laura kept looking at Grace. At last,
37:13the older woman spoke. If it wouldn't be
37:16difficult for you, maybe you could help
37:18for now.
37:20>> Laura nodded once. Her eyes had been
37:23warm with something close to pity a
37:24moment earlier. That warmth ebbed.
37:28Before I came here, I didn't know the
37:30money was yours. I didn't know Daniel
37:32had written out a confession for me
37:34either. Now we know both things, and I'm
37:37still the one being asked to pay.
37:40>> Grace lifted her face. I didn't say it
37:43was your fault, but you still want me to
37:46cover it.
37:47>> It was a quiet sentence. Grace heard it
37:50more clearly than anything shouted that
37:52night. She thought of the hospital
37:54appointment Daniel had forgotten, and
37:57how Laura had canceled work to pick her
37:59up. When Daniel promised to help her
38:02move, Laura spent two days kneeling on
38:05the floor packing boxes. When he said he
38:08would go with Grace to look at
38:09apartments, Laura went instead, checking
38:12each building to make sure the elevator
38:14was dependable. Grace had always told
38:17her daughter-in-law that she trusted her
38:20to take care of things. Each time,
38:22without thinking much about it, she'd
38:24handed Laura another job her son had
38:27left undone. Tonight, she had almost
38:30done it again, this time with the one
38:32sum of money she couldn't afford to
38:35lose. Grace set down her spoon and
38:37picked up the statement. Its corner
38:40touched the old house number plaque. She
38:43stopped, put the plaque back in her bag,
38:45and slid the statement across to Daniel.
38:49Don't ask Laura to sign these words.
38:52Daniel frowned.
38:54>> Mom, I already said we could revise it.
38:57>> I don't mean change the wording until
38:58nobody can tell who did what. You
39:01promised me my money was safe.
39:04Tell me yourself how you're going to put
39:06that right. Her voice shook, but she
39:09didn't lower it. Daniel didn't touch the
39:11paper. He watched her as though
39:14expecting her to soften what she'd said.
39:16Grace sat with both hands resting on her
39:19bag. She didn't add the phrase she used
39:21to say so often. Don't make things
39:24difficult for him. Robert spoke next. We
39:28can work out how to recover the money.
39:30But before we do that, you need to clear
39:32up what you told us about Laura.
39:34>> Daniel leaned back.
39:36>> I told you we weren't all communicating
39:40the same way.
39:42>> Laura moved her cold tea aside.
39:45>> Was I the one who decided to transfer
39:47that money to Rebecca's showroom?
39:50>> Do we really have to do this question by
39:52question?
39:53>> Yes or no? No one moved. The silverware
39:57lay beside the plates. Daniel held his
40:00answer long enough for everyone to
40:02understand he was choosing it.
40:05>> No.
40:06>> Did you discuss that statement with me
40:08and ask me to approve
40:11it before you had it written?
40:13>> No.
40:14>> When you invited Robert and Helen, did
40:17you tell them I'd already admitted I was
40:20wrong and was refusing to apologize?
40:23Daniel's finger tapped once against the
40:25edge of the table. Robert answered
40:28first.
40:29>> "That's exactly what you told me."
40:32>> Laura did not turn to her uncle-in-law.
40:34She continued looking at Daniel. At
40:37last, he gave a small nod. Helen lowered
40:40her eyes. She had come prepared to tell
40:43Laura that marriage required compromise
40:46and to make that advice sound gentle
40:47enough not to embarrass someone who had
40:50been part of their family for over 20
40:52years. It occurred to her that without
40:55asking even one question, she'd almost
40:58helped make a false accusation feel like
41:00the reasonable family position.
41:03>> Laura, I shouldn't have come here ready
41:05to ask you to give in before I knew the
41:08facts. Now we know them.
41:11>> Megan opened her document folder and
41:14took out a second set of pages.
41:16>> There's another one. Daniel told me not
41:19to bring it out until the first was
41:20signed.
41:21>> Daniel lifted his head.
41:23>> Megan.
41:25>> She flinched but kept the pages on the
41:27table.
41:28>> I thought you'd both agreed to it. Now I
41:31know you hadn't. I can't keep pretending
41:34I don't know.
41:35>> The second document was a proposed
41:37handover after Laura left. the company's
41:40day-to-day operations.
41:42It listed the warehouse keys, the
41:44supplier contacts, and all the weddings
41:47already under contract. At the bottom
41:50was a requirement that she assist with
41:52current orders so the company wouldn't
41:54suffer any damage to its reputation.
41:57Laura read that last line twice. Even in
42:01the paperwork designed to push her out,
42:02Daniel had remembered to assign the work
42:05she would still have to finish for him.
42:08Daniel stood abruptly, pushing his chair
42:10behind him.
42:12>> Fine.
42:14Everything's my fault. Is that what
42:16everybody wants to hear?
42:18>> Grace looked up.
42:20>> Sit down. He didn't sit. He turned
42:23toward Laura instead.
42:25>> I wasn't trying to ruin your life. I
42:28needed to get things settled. We've both
42:30been tired for years.
42:33Wouldn't it be better for everyone if we
42:35separated?
42:36Rebecca had been quiet, but now she
42:38raised her head.
42:40>> "You told me she'd already agreed to
42:42separate.
42:44You said the only problem was working
42:46out the money."
42:47>> Laura looked at her. Color spread slowly
42:50across Rebecca's face.
42:52>> When you said you'd bring the family in
42:54to persuade her to take
42:58responsibility, I didn't stop you.
43:01>> She caught the handle of the unopened
43:02pastry box between her fingers. I
43:05thought once the store was making money,
43:07we could pay everything back. Laura
43:10didn't rush to tell her it was all
43:11right.
43:12>> You could wait until the store was
43:14earning money to make things right. I
43:17was supposed to admit to something I
43:19didn't do tonight.
43:20>> Rebecca lowered her eyes. Daniel stood
43:23for another moment and then sat.
43:26>> I arranged it.
43:27>> He wasn't hiding his words behind a sigh
43:29now.
43:30>> I wanted you to accept the
43:32responsibility.
43:34then I'd have something to tell mom and
43:36the company could move forward. I
43:39thought
43:40>> You thought I wouldn't make a scene in
43:42front of the family. He did not deny it.
43:45A car passed outside and its headlights
43:48shifted briefly across the window. Laura
43:50took her coat from the chair back.
43:53Daniel put his hand on the table.
43:55>> Don't just walk out. What are we
43:58supposed to do next? We can list the
44:00company responsibilities tomorrow and
44:02make a clear handover. Anything I
44:04haven't agreed to stays out of the
44:06paperwork
44:08>> and us.
44:09>> She paused with one arm in her coat. At
44:12last he had asked about their marriage.
44:15On the table were still the two sets of
44:17papers heeded prepared without speaking
44:20to her. One required her to admit
44:22wrongdoing. The other required her to
44:25finish the work and then leave. We
44:27should live separately for now.
44:30>> Daniel swallowed.
44:31>> After more than 20 years, you can really
44:33just let all of it go.
44:35>> Laura straightened her sleeve.
44:38>> The things I can't let go of, I'll take
44:40with me and think about. I'm not signing
44:43either paper.
44:44>> She didn't slam the door. As she reached
44:47it, Grace called her name. The older
44:50woman shifted the untouched pastry box
44:53to one side.
44:54>> You don't need to pay my rent.
44:57Laura turned. Grace looked at Daniel.
45:00Get back whatever can still be
45:02recovered.
45:03If there's a shortfall, pay me back over
45:06time. I want to know exactly how much is
45:09missing.
45:11>> I understand.
45:12>> This time, Grace did not supply any
45:14reassurance to go with those words. She
45:17did not say he meant well or that
45:19everything would work out as soon as he
45:22was less busy. Daniel paid for dinner.
45:25At the register, the cashier asked
45:27whether he wanted the lefto boxed up. He
45:30opened his mouth to call Laura and got
45:32as far as the first sound before
45:35remembering she had already left. 3
45:38months later, Rebecca's bridal showroom
45:40still had not opened. Money that hadn't
45:43been spent was returned first. Some of
45:45the fixtures and equipment were sold to
45:47recover what they could. Rent and
45:50renovation costs were not things anyone
45:52could put. back in a box and send away.
45:56Daniel sold the expensive car he'd used
45:58for client meetings and began making
46:00monthly payments to his mother. Rebecca
46:03finished dealing with the dresses and
46:05supplies she'd already ordered, then
46:07left the unfinished store. The last time
46:10she and Daniel met, they discussed who
46:13would remove. Several gowns still
46:15hanging inside. They did not talk about
46:18the future business they had once
46:20imagined running together. Grace rented
46:23a small apartment in a building with an
46:25elevator. There was just enough room on
46:28the balcony for her two jasmine plants.
46:30She wiped the old house number plaque
46:32clean and placed it in her bedside
46:35drawer. She asked Laura over for dinner
46:38once. Daniel wasn't invited. There was
46:42no extra place set in the hope that he
46:44might turn up. After the meal, while
46:46Laura helped carry dishes to the sink,
46:49Grace started to say that long marriages
46:51sometimes went off course. She saw Laura
46:54working at her side, the same way she'd
46:56worked beside her for years, and stopped
47:00before the familiar advice could become.
47:03Another request to forgive what Daniel
47:04had done. Instead, she took a plate from
47:07Laura and asked when she would be free
47:10to visit again. I'll check in after the
47:13end of the month when work slows down.
47:16Laura didn't promise a date she didn't
47:18know she could keep. She and Denise
47:20rented a small studio and began taking
47:22floral orders and smaller weddings.
47:26During the first month, Laura earned
47:28less than she had at the old company. In
47:31the second, a heavy summer rain soaked
47:33one corner of a newly finished welcome
47:36sign. The two of them crouched on the
47:39floor to rewrap it and worked until 9
47:42that night. Denise cut a strip of
47:44packing tape crooked. Laura
47:47automatically reached to take the
47:48scissors. Here, I'll do it. Denise
47:52pulled them back against her chest. Go
47:54get the takeout. I need some practice,
47:57too.
47:58>> Laura stood and went to the door to
48:00collect the two meals. When she came
48:02back, she set one container in front of
48:04herself and the other on the stool where
48:07Denise had been sitting. She opened the
48:10utensils and put a set with each. Her
48:13phone rang. It was Daniel. He wanted to
48:16know where the old white table linens
48:18were kept at the warehouse. Laura told
48:20him they were listed on page three of
48:22the handover inventory. She ended the
48:25call without asking whether he'd found
48:27them. Without putting on her coat and
48:30without making a trip back to look
48:31herself, Denise came over after washing
48:34her hands. The takeout was still
48:36unopened. Who are you waiting for? Laura
48:40turned her phone face down on the table.
48:43You. They opened the containers. The
48:46soup was still hot. There was no need to
48:49save it until somebody else found time
48:51to come home.

About this transcript

This page contains the full transcript of My Husband Set Me Up for $140K Spent on His Ex—Then Opened the Door and Froze at the Woman Inside by Secret & Reckoning Tales, generated from the public captions YouTube serves with the video. The transcript has 7,664 words across 1,204 segments, with the original timestamps preserved so you can click any line to jump to that moment in the embedded player.

What you can do with it

Use the transcript to take notes, quote the speaker, build a study guide, generate a summary with ChatGPT or Claude via the YouTube Summary tool, or export it as a timed subtitle file with YouTube to SRT. You can also re-open it in the transcriber to choose a caption track available on the video.

Free YouTube transcript tool

YouTube2Text is a free YouTube transcript generator — no signup, no daily limit. Paste any YouTube link and get the full transcript instantly, with timestamps, click-to-jump, caption language selection, AI prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, and exports to TXT, SRT, VTT, or Markdown.