Chapter 5 - My Son’s Choice
Marlene Reyes had been my attorney for twelve years.
She was five-foot-four, wore plain black suits, and had the unnerving ability to make powerful men start explaining themselves when nobody had asked.
Ethan stared at her.
“Marlene?”
She walked toward us.
“Congratulations.”
Nobody smiled.
She handed me her coat.
Caroline said, “Who invited you?”
Marlene looked at her.
“Your father.”
Preston’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“Technically your attorney did.”
She removed her phone.
“There was supposed to be a closing discussion at nine tonight.”
Diane whispered, “At the wedding?”
Marlene nodded.
“Mr. Whitmore insisted.”
Caroline turned toward her father.
“You scheduled a business closing during my reception?”
Preston rubbed his forehead.
“It was convenient.”
For the first time that evening, Caroline looked hurt by someone other than me.
But Ethan was still focused on my answer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I looked at him.
“Do you remember dinner at my house six weeks ago?”
His eyes shifted.
“Yes.”
“You told me Caroline’s father had asked about my investments.”
Ethan swallowed.
I continued.
“I said I didn’t like it.”
“I remember.”
“What did you say?”
“Mom.”
“What did you say?”
He looked away.
Marlene answered for him.
“You said your mother had embarrassed you enough and needed to stay out of your new family.”
Caroline blinked.
I felt the room disappear for a moment.
Not because I had forgotten the words.
I hadn’t.
But hearing someone else repeat them made them sound even worse.
Ethan whispered, “I was angry.”
“You were clear.”
He looked at me.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did.”
“No.”
“You meant it then.”
My voice stayed calm.
“That matters.”
His face fell.
I had spent most of my life rescuing Ethan before he fully understood he needed rescue.
Forgotten homework?
I drove it to school.
Flat tire?
I came.
Bad college roommate?
I handled deposits for a new apartment.
Terrible first business partner?
I found a lawyer.
I had mistaken helping him for teaching him.
Maybe that was partly my fault.
I loved him so much that I had made consequences feel optional.
Until now.
“I knew enough to be worried,” I told him. “But you’re thirty-four years old. You told me to stay out.”
Ethan glanced at Caroline.
She whispered, “He’s my husband now.”
I looked directly at her.
“Yes.”
“And that means what happens between us is our business.”
“Correct.”
Caroline seemed surprised.
I stepped closer to Ethan.
“That includes your mistakes.”
He looked at me.
I could see the boy he used to be somewhere behind the man standing there.
But I could not make this decision for him.
So I didn’t.
I picked up my purse.
Marlene said quietly, “Margaret, there’s still the closing.”
“No.”
Preston stiffened.
“What does that mean?”
I faced him.
“It means I’m exercising the extension clause.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You can’t.”
Marlene smiled faintly.
“She can.”
“For how long?”
“Ninety days.”
The blood left Preston’s face again.
Diane grabbed his arm.
“Preston, what does that mean?”
He didn’t answer.
I did.
“It means the purchase money you were expecting next week won’t arrive next week.”
Caroline stared at him.
“Why do we need the money next week?”
Preston’s silence became dangerous.
Marlene looked toward me.
I gave her one nod.
She told them.
“Because Whitmore Family Holdings has a debt payment due Monday morning.”
“How much?”
Ethan asked.
Marlene answered.
“Six-point-eight million dollars.”
May you like
Diane sat down hard.
And Caroline’s father suddenly looked like a man standing at the edge of a cliff.
