The Next Morning, Diane Came Over

Rachel had not invited her.

Diane arrived anyway.

Mark let her inside.

Rachel was furious.

Diane said:

“I don’t want this destroying your marriage.”

Rachel replied:

“Then you probably shouldn’t have helped him hide it.”

Diane insisted she hadn’t “helped hide” anything.

She simply hadn’t believed it was her place to tell Rachel.

Rachel asked:

“But it was your place to encourage him to help his ex?”

Diane became defensive.

“Lauren has nobody.”

Rachel responded:

“Then you could have paid her rent.”

Diane didn’t answer.

Then Diane Blamed Rachel

That was where the conversation changed.

Diane said:

“Maybe Mark didn’t tell you because you can be very rigid about money.”

Rachel stared at her.

“Excuse me?”

“Everything has to be planned. Budgeted. Approved.”

Rachel replied:

“Yes. That’s usually how joint finances work.”

Diane shook her head.

“Marriage isn’t a business transaction.”

Rachel answered:

“Apparently mine has been funding one.”

Mark told both women to stop.

Neither did.

Diane finally said:

“If you’re willing to end a marriage over money, maybe the marriage wasn’t very strong.”

Rachel went silent.

Then she walked to the front door and opened it.

“You need to leave.”