Chapter 9 - ETHAN CHOOSES HIS MOTHEREthan came to Warren’s house that night.
Warren opened the door.
Neither man smiled.
“I’m here for Nora.”
“She decides whether she sees you.”
“I know.”
That answer surprised Warren.
He stepped aside.
Nora sat in the living room.
Ethan stopped when he saw her.
“You look tired.”
She almost laughed.
“Apparently that’s everybody’s favorite observation.”
He sat across from her.
Warren moved toward the kitchen.
Nora said:
“Stay.”
Ethan stiffened.
“This is between us.”
“No.”
Nora looked at Warren.
“I want a witness.”
The sentence hurt Ethan.
Good.
He needed to feel something.
Nora began.
“Did you know your mother hired someone to monitor me?”
“I knew she hired risk consultants.”
“Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know they were checking my movements?”
“No.”
“Did you ask?”
“No.”
“Did you tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked down.
“I thought it was harmless.”
Nora nodded.
“Did your mother ask for access to foundation files Saturday?”
“Yes.”
“And you approved it.”
“Yes.”
“Without asking why.”
“Yes.”
Warren said nothing.
Ethan looked at Nora.
“I’m sorry.”
“For which part?”
“All.”
“No.”
Her voice remained calm.
“Be specific.”
Ethan swallowed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you.”
She waited.
“I’m sorry I approved the login.”
More.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you fast enough at the hotel.”
Nora’s eyes filled.
“Fast enough?”
He winced.
“I should have believed you immediately.”
“Yes.”
Ethan nodded.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That if you were right, Mom had done something unforgivable.”
There.
Nora stared.
“So you chose an explanation where I was confused.”
“I didn’t choose—”
“You did.”
He looked away.
“You needed me to be wrong so your mother could still be who you thought she was.”
“Yes.”
Nora breathed.
It hurt.
Honesty often did.
Then Ethan made the mistake.
“But Warren is making this worse.”
Nora stared.
Warren’s expression did not change.
Ethan continued.
“He has hated my family for years.”
“That has nothing to do with Derek.”
“He’s pushing you toward the worst interpretation.”
“No.”
“He always wanted you away from us.”
Nora stood.
“And there it is.”
“What?”
“Your mother hires someone who follows me into a restroom, and somehow we end up discussing my father.”
“I didn’t say Mom hired Derek.”
“You still won’t say it.”
“Because we don’t know.”
Nora looked at him.
“Do you believe she might have?”
Ethan’s silence returned.
Again.
Nora nodded slowly.
“You need to leave.”
“Nora.”
“Please.”
He stood.
“I love you.”
She closed her eyes.
“I love you too.”
Hope flashed.
Then:
“That is not enough right now.”
Ethan left.
Warren remained quiet.
After the door closed, Nora whispered:
“I wanted him to choose me.”
Warren shook his head.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You wanted him to choose the truth.”
Nora began crying.
May you like
And somehow that was worse.
Because Warren was right.
Related Stories
