S Is for Silence

well have made it twenty dollars instead of twenty thousand. You can’t start a business without capital outlay, especially one like mine. But look at what I’ve accomplished. I got myself up and running and I did it on my own. What I’m talking about now is a little boost.”
    “If your business were up and running, you wouldn’t be sitting here trying to browbeat me into giving you more.”
    Tom looked at the minister. “Browbeating? Is this browbeating when I’m practically down on my hands and knees?”
    The minister said, “I think Cora can appreciate your position in this.”
    Tom said to Cora, “No, wait a minute. Who’s idea was this? Mine. I’m here trying to work things out, trying to resolve our differences with precious little help from you.”
    “You’re here because you thought you could use him to pressure me into it. I’m sorry, but I won’t give you a cent. It’s out of the question.”
    “I’m not asking you to give me the money. We’re talking about a loan. We can draw up any kind of papers you like and I’ll sign on the dotted line. I don’t want charity. I want your trust and respect. Is that too much to ask?”
    Cora stared at her hands.
    Tom thought she was formulating a reply, but then he realized this was her reply. He could feel the heat rise in his face. Her silence said everything. She had no respect for him and she had no trust. What it all boiled down to was she’d married him knowing full well that his financial situation was limited. She’d said it didn’t matter, but he could see now that what she wanted was the upper hand. Money was control and she had no intention of surrendering her advantage. When she’d been married to Loden he’d held the whip and she’d been dependent, jumping through hoops. Now she was doing the same thing to him.
    He couldn’t remember how the session ended. Certainly not with Cora making a concession of any kind.
    They’d been silent walking to the car, silent on the way home. He’d dropped her at the house and headed straight for the Moon. Violet was there that night. She’d perched on the stool next to his and he’d bought her a glass of red wine. She was half in the bag, but then again, so was he by this time. “What has you so down in the dumps?” she’d asked.
    “It’s Cora. We had a counseling session with the minister and somewhere in the middle, the light finally dawned. The woman doesn’t trust me and she has no respect. I don’t understand it. She married me for better or for worse. This is worse, where I am, but she won’t lend a hand to pull me out of a hole.”
    “What kind of hole?”
    “Money, what else? My business needs a boost. That’s all I’m talking about.”
    Violet had laughed. “She’s supposed to give you money? Why should she do that?”
    “I’d do it for her. What’s marriage about if not sharing fifty-fifty? Doesn’t that sound fair?”
    “Sure, but in this case, both halves belong to her. What do you have to offer?”
    “Business savvy. I’m a businessman.”
    “You’re a horse’s ass. You sound just like Foley. He’d love to get his big mitts on my money. It’s like the Chinese water torture. Drip, drip, drip.”
    “You don’t see yourselves as a team?”
    “Sure. We’re made for each other. He’s the boxer and I’m the punching bag.”
    “You wouldn’t give him anything? Even if it might make a difference in his life?”
    “Of course not. Why should I? He’d piss it away.”
    “You women are hard. I’ve never seen anything like it. The Bible says wives should be submissive to their husbands. Didn’t you ever hear about that?”
    “No.”
    “Well, neither did my wife. It’s not even her money. She got it from that old fart she was married to. Hell, I’d have married the man myself if he’d asked me nice.”
    Violet’s eyebrows went up. “Why? Are you one of them?”
    “No, I’m not one of them. I’m just making a point.”
    “You don’t know what women go through to get money.”
    Tom said, “Well, I can make it easy for you. That money you got? You give it to me and I’ll promise you a forty percent return in three months. Guaranteed.”
    “Bullshit.” She took out a cigarette and Tom leaned forward with a light. She blew out a stream of smoke and gave him a speculative look. “I got a question for you. How come you never come on to me? Don’t you find me attractive?”
    “I do. Of course I do. What kind of question is