I felt sick.
“Then she told me that loving someone wasn’t enough to build a life together.”
My mother made a small sound, but he continued.
“She said you’d grown up watching your father struggle. She said she wouldn’t allow you to repeat that mistake. Then she took out a check.”
“Twenty thousand dollars,” I whispered.
“Yes.”
“Made out to you?”
“Yes.”
My throat tightened.
“What did you do?”
“I pushed it back across the table.”
Ethan looked directly at me.
“I told her I wasn’t leaving you.”
“What did she say?”
He hesitated.
“She said I’d be back in a year, asking her for help. She said men like me always confused a woman’s affection with an opportunity to improve their lives.”
I covered my mouth.
He went on.
“Then she told me that if I really loved you, I’d walk away before you ruined your life trying to save me.”
