4
Lisa had left early, a full day of work ahead of her and Ianto wandered around the apartment picking up as his little one slept in. He was not going to preschool today, the stand-down still in effect. The stand-down he had strangely not told Lisa of. For the first time in his life, he had lied. Well … not lied but omission is the same thing right?
Ianto was looking forward to a day with his little one, the rain outside falling heavily now and the fact he didn't have to straggle the child to the preschool was actually comforting. Instead Ianto thought of some games they might play, some fun to be had and he checked the fridge, then called in an order for delivery.
Why not have some fun.
"Ah… Mister Hallett?" the shopkeeper said on the other end of the phone, sounding a little uncomfortable.
"Yes?"
"Ah… your bill for the last month…"
Oh god. "Oh I am so sorry. Has that not cleared? Hold on, I will pay that now"
Ianto fiddled with the laptop and soon had the account on the screen, paying with ease and adding some to cover today "There we go, also ahead a few hundred to cover the next few orders. So sorry about that, would forget me head if it wasn't super glued on."
Finally off the phone Ianto sat and stared at the screen that showed their joint account. Well … Ianto's account. The money she 'allowed' him and he saw that she had not placed anything in it for at least two months. The monthly instalments had stopped and he hadn't even noticed. Although not a problem now… by the end of the month when he had to pay all the bills, he would find himself tight for money.
He picked up the phone "Hi there. It's Mister Hallett, is Missus Hallett there?"
Ianto sat and listened to the poor assistant splutter and try to find a reason why he couldn't talk to her right now, assuring him that she would call him back. Ianto sat back and pondered this, then made another call.
"Hi Jack. Listen, something is going on with my money. My wife… I mean … do you know where she is right now?" Ianto was surprised that this was the question he decided on but Jack didn't seem so surprised.
"At this moment in time she is on a plane to Vancouver for an afternoon at a very nice spa there, pre booked in both her name and that of a … Randy Glover?"
Ianto felt sick. He felt more than that. He felt angry.
The phone pings to tell him someone was on the other line and he asked Jack to hold, taking it as his wife began to scold him for calling her at work.
"You know how busy I am Ianto, this is not a good thime! Damn, could it not have waited?"
"Where are you?"
"At work, you know I am. For Godsake what do you want!"
"I want my money. You have not paid me for months and I am getting low. We had an agreement or do I have to go to your father and tell him I do not have enough money to feed his grandchild?"
The silence felt good. He knew he would pay for that but it felt good to know she could not say what she wanted, couldn't not scream, throw something or hit him. He drummed his fingers and repeated "where are you?"
"I will put some in now. I forgot" she said flatly, then hung up.
Ianto grunted, then put Jack back on "You are sure that is where she is?"
"Plane landed not ten minutes ago. Yep. He's tall. Handsome in an Asian sort of way."
Ouch.
"You sure you still want to take the high road?" Jack aksed "You know… we could still go low and dirty. You just take off my muzzle and let me go."
"Jack … let's just see where this all goes, yeah?"
Ianto has a lot to think about.
.
.
.
.
"Sorry I am late, the meeting went so late that we ate there" Lisa called out as she entered the apartment "Did you get the message?"
"Yes." Ianto called back, still at the sink staring at the splash back with annoyance. He hates yelling. He waited for that to start, her anger at the phone call today but to his confusion, she acted like nothing had happened.
"Good. God I am beat. Will shower and hit the sack. Henry have a good day?" she asked as she dropped her briefcase and Ianto turned to look at her with interest. Her blouse had spots of wine on it, also the smell of garlic wafted off her. Really? Someone ate out?
"Thank you for putting some money into the account" Ianto said calmly "That was kind of you when I knew how busy you were. Sorry to bother you, but Henry needed some things and I knew you would hate the thought of him not having his treats."
She nod as she fell into the chair and huffed "I hate these shoes."
"Horrible shoes. Shall I cut them into little pieces for you?" Ianto asked and she laughed, always amused by his dry responses and never sure when it was sarcasm or wit, usually taking it all for wit. After all, he would not DARE pick a fight.
"I am sorry I did that, forgot. I put in several months worth to make up to it and please.. add it to my diary prompts" she said as she rose and walked to the bedroom, leaving those shoes where she had kicked them off and Ianto swallowed anger once more as he bent to pick them up.
He was starting to get the idea Jack was trying to help him with.
He was happier when she was not there.
He deserved a life too.