«What do you want to hear?» Olivia raised her eyes. «Haven’t you already decided everything?» Emily suddenly snorted but quickly covered it with her hand, pretending to cough. «Well, yes,» mumbled David, feeling a strange unease.
«So, we’ve decided everything.» «Of course,» nodded Olivia. «By the way, the chicken turned out especially well today.
What do you think?» She turned to her daughter, starting to discuss her school matters as if the issue was closed. David looked at his wife with slight bewilderment. Something in her reaction worried him, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Olivia, smiling, listened to her daughter’s story about chemistry class, with only a small wrinkle on her forehead betraying her agitation. «Well, if he wants separate budgets, he’ll get them.» Monday morning didn’t start for David as usual…
Opening the kitchen cabinet, he reached for his favorite coffee, the expensive Italian one with a rich aroma and slight bitterness. But it wasn’t in its usual place. «Olivia!» he called, peeking into the bedroom.
«Where’s my coffee?» «Oh, right,» came his wife’s calm voice. «I didn’t buy it. I have my own budget now, remember? And your coffee is too expensive.»
David froze, feeling an unpleasant sensation. There was no sarcasm or anger in her voice. Just a light, almost businesslike indifference.
He heard her humming something as she got ready for her Pilates class, which she had recently resumed. «Fine,» he muttered, «I’ll buy some on the way.» But that was just the beginning.
That evening, David looked into the fridge and found only vegetables, milk, and a couple of containers labeled by Emily. «Where’s…?» he started to ask. «Your half of the fridge is empty,» Olivia replied indifferently, without even lifting her eyes from her book.
«Emily and I bought groceries with our share of the budget.» The next day, the shampoo ran out. Then the shaving gel.
On Thursday, he noticed the gas in the car was low, and the incoming utility bill was addressed only to him. «Listen,» he couldn’t hold back on Friday morning as Olivia was about to leave. «Is this some kind of demonstration?» She stopped in the doorway, adjusting her new scarf.
David suddenly noticed that in recent days, his wife looked especially fresh and well-groomed. «Demonstration?» she asked with genuine surprise. «No.
What do you mean? I’m just following our new financial principles. Each spends only what they earn. I’m not working, as you kindly reminded me…
I only have the amount you allocated for household needs. But you always…» He faltered, realizing how many things he had taken for granted. «Always what?» Olivia tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a faint smile.
«Always bought groceries? Paid the bills? Filled up your car? Yes, dear. But that was when we had a shared budget.» Emily appeared in the hallway, already ready for school.
«Mom, you didn’t forget? We’re going to the cafe after school,» she said in a playfully innocent voice, barely glancing at her father. «Of course, sweetie,» Olivia patted her daughter on the shoulder. «I’ve set aside money for our little treats.»..
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