Chapter 12 - “EVERYONE BENEFITED EXCEPT CLAIRE”
“I requested the Northbridge documents,” Patricia said.
“I know.”
“I told them you were willing to sell.”
“I know that too.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“No.”
She nodded.
The fact that I didn’t argue seemed to affect her more than anger would have.
“I was afraid.”
I waited.
“After my husband died, Ryan became the person I called for everything. Repairs. Money. Decisions. When his business started failing, I felt…”
She searched for the word.
“Useless.”
Ryan looked at her.
“So you decided to run my life.”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised everyone.
“I told myself I was helping. Then I learned about the redevelopment possibility. I thought if I arranged it, your debts would disappear. Claire could buy another house. And I would earn enough through the consulting fee to stop depending on you.”
Megan finally spoke.
“So everyone benefited except Claire.”
Patricia flinched.
“Yes.”
I was grateful Megan said it.
I didn’t have to.
Patricia looked at me.
“I convinced myself you would eventually agree.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
She hesitated.
“You usually do.”
The same answer Ryan had given.
My kindness had become predictable.
Because it was predictable, they had started treating it like access.
“I need both of you to understand something.”
Ryan and Patricia looked at me.
“When I cooked for you after your surgery, Patricia, I chose to.”
She lowered her eyes.
“When I let you move into my house, I chose to.”
I looked at Ryan.
“When I helped your business during the good years, I chose to.”
My voice remained calm.
“Those were gifts.”
Neither spoke.
“They were not evidence that I would eventually surrender whatever you asked for.”
Patricia nodded slowly.
Ryan whispered:
“I understand.”
I looked at him.
“You don’t get to say those words and make everything different.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying you know.”
He accepted that.
“What would you prefer I say?”
For once, the question sounded sincere.
I thought about it.
“Nothing.”
He nodded.
And, to his credit, said nothing.
That was the beginning of the quietest period of my life.
And strangely, the quiet was harder than the mystery.
Because once the secrets were exposed, I had to decide what I actually wanted.
Not what Dad wanted.
Not what Megan wanted.
May you like
Not what Ryan wanted.
Me.
