She didn’t bother with small talk.
“I understand you’ve been asking questions about Elaine.”
I sat down.
“She’s Ryan’s aunt. I thought it might be nice for them to reconnect.”
Patricia’s face hardened.
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
“Then explain it to me.”
She laughed without humor.
“You think you can walk into this family and decide who belongs here?”
“No. I think Ryan deserves to know the truth about his own family.”
For the first time, her expression changed.
She reached for the envelope and slid it toward me.
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
I stared at it.
“What?”
“Take it. End the engagement. Move somewhere else. Tell Ryan you changed your mind. I don’t care what excuse you use.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You want me to leave your son?”
“I want you out of his life.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re making trouble.”
I looked at the envelope again.
