Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE
Ryan answered on speaker.
“Laura?”
Silence.
Then a woman inhaled sharply.
“Ryan.”
He sat down.
Seven years collapsed into one word.
“Why are you calling me?”
“Emily contacted me.”
Ryan looked toward her.
Emily remained by the door.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should’ve told you.”
Laura interrupted.
“No. You did the right thing.”
Diane stepped forward.
“This is not happening.”
Ryan looked up.
“What isn’t happening?”
His mother’s face hardened.
Laura heard her.
“Hi, Mom.”
Diane reached for the phone.
Ryan pulled it away.
“Don’t.”
It might have been the first time in his adult life he had physically prevented his mother from controlling a conversation.
Laura spoke carefully.
“Ryan, before anything else, I need you to know I did not stop talking to you.”
Ryan went still.
“I emailed you for two years.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I sent birthday cards.”
“They stopped.”
“I sent Dad letters.”
“He said you never called.”
“I called every Sunday for six months.”
Ryan stood.
“What are you talking about?”
Laura was silent for a moment.
Then:
“Ask Mom what happened to the family email account.”
Ryan looked at Diane.
She said nothing.
Their parents had created one shared email address years earlier because Michael disliked technology. Diane handled most messages.
Laura continued.
“When Nathan and I moved, I sent you my new number. I sent it to that account. I asked Mom to forward it.”
“She told me you didn’t want contact.”
“I never said that.”
Ryan’s face changed.
Diane folded her arms.
“You have no idea what your sister put us through.”
Laura’s voice sharpened.
“And you have no idea what she told me about you.”
Ryan swallowed.
“What did she tell you?”
“That you agreed I was a selfish bitch who should stay away from Dad until I apologized.”
Ryan stared at his mother.
“I never said that.”
“I know.”
Emily slowly set down her suitcase.
Nobody was leaving yet.
May you like
Not because the conflict was resolved.
Because the house had just opened another door.
