Chapter 5 - Patricia’s Definition of FamilyPatricia refused an internal interview.
Instead she came to Ethan’s house.
Lauren had returned from the hospital with Noah that morning.
A temporary protective order barred Patricia from entering.
So she stood outside the gate and called Ethan.
“Come speak to me.”
“No.”
“I am your mother.”
“I know.”
“Then act like my son.”
That sentence used to move him.
Now it only exhausted him.
“What does acting like your son require?”
“Stopping this investigation.”
There.
Not:
How is Noah?
Not:
How is Lauren?
Not:
I’m sorry.
Stop the investigation.
Ethan walked outside but remained behind the gate.
Patricia stood on the sidewalk.
Perfect coat.
Perfect hair.
Eyes red.
“You’re going to send your sister to prison.”
“No.”
“She committed fraud.”
“She made mistakes.”
“She impersonated Dad.”
“Because I told her he would have wanted it!”
“And the vendor payments?”
Patricia’s jaw tightened.
“I introduced contractors.”
“You charged them.”
“I provided access.”
“To my company.”
“Our company.”
“No.”
That word visibly offended her.
Patricia stepped closer.
“I gave Daniel thirty-two years.”
“I stood beside him when he had nothing.”
“I entertained investors.”
“I raised you while he worked.”
“And then he dies and suddenly a piece of paper says you own everything?”
Ethan finally understood.
This was not only greed.
Resentment had been fermenting for years.
His mother believed unpaid emotional labor inside the marriage entitled her to corporate authority afterward.
Perhaps Daniel had undervalued her contribution.
Perhaps he had made mistakes.
But forgery was still forgery.
Ethan said:
“You deserved recognition.”
Patricia’s face softened slightly.
“You deserved security.”
“Yes.”
“You received both.”
Her expression changed.
“But you did not receive ownership of every decision I make for the rest of my life.”
Patricia stared.
“This is Lauren talking.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“This is why you hate Lauren.”
“She taught me to say things you don’t like hearing.”
Patricia’s eyes hardened.
“That woman separated you from us.”
“Lauren invited you into our home.”
“She gave you a grandchild.”
“She reminded me to call you.”
“She bought your birthday gifts when I forgot.”
Patricia said nothing.
Ethan continued.
“You didn’t lose me because of Lauren.”
“You started losing me when you decided my independence was something she did to you.”
Patricia began crying.
Then made the mistake that ended the conversation.
“She can leave.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“You and Noah come stay with me.”
“Lauren can take some time.”
He almost could not believe it.
Even now.
In Patricia’s mind, Lauren was removable.
A wife.
A mother.
Someone standing between blood relatives and what they believed belonged to them.
Ethan opened the front door.
Patricia called:
“Ethan!”
He looked back.
“My wife is inside.”
“My son is inside.”
May you like
“That is where I’m going.”
Then he closed the door.
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