Chapter 5 - The Ultimatum
Dorene’s chest heaved as she glared at me, her eyes wild with fury. For a moment, I thought she might actually lunge across the table. But the presence of Uncle Joe, who was now standing up and staring at her with undisguised disgust, seemed to anchor her feet to the floor.
“You think you’ve won something,” Dorene hissed, her voice shaking with suppressed rage. “You think a few old papers and some manipulated bank statements mean anything? I have legal counsel. I have documents filed with the county. You’ll be in court for years trying to untangle this, and by then, Robert won’t even remember your name.”
“You’re welcome to try your luck in court, Dorene,” I said calmly, leaning against the back of an empty chair. “Especially once the local prosecutor sees the forensic audit of Mom’s memorial fund. Embezzlement from a designated nonprofit trust carries a mandatory prison sentence in this state. But hey, maybe the prison warden likes glittery reindeer sweaters.”
Dorene flinched, the color draining from her face. She looked at Melanie, hoping for support, but my sister was staring down at her napkin, trembling, finally realizing the magnitude of the web Dorene had spun around all of us.
“Melanie,” Dorene pleaded, her voice suddenly softening into a pathetic whine. “You know I was only trying to protect your future. You have a baby now. You need security—”
“Shut up, Dorene,” Melanie said, her voice shaking as she stood up from the table. She wouldn’t even look her aunt in the eye. “You told me Ryan hated us. You told me he didn’t even send a gift for the baby. But I saw the tracking number on the package he dropped off in his car. It was delivered yesterday.”
Melanie turned her tear-filled eyes toward me. “Ryan… I’m sorry. I was stupid. I just believed everything she said because it was easier than fighting.”
“It’s fine, Mel,” I said quietly. “We can talk later. Right now, there’s a more immediate eviction to handle.”
I turned my gaze back to Dorene. “You have twenty minutes to pack your bags, clear your things out of the guest room, and get out of this house. If you’re still here when the clock strikes midnight, we let the police handle the audit.”
Dorene stared at me, realizing the game was utterly lost. There were no more cards to play, no more lines to manipulate. She grabbed her handbag from the back of her chair, snatched her wine glass, and drained the remaining contents in one furious gulp.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” she spat, marching toward the dining room archway. She stopped right beside Dad, glaring up at him with pure venom. “And you, Robert. When you’re sitting in this empty house all alone next year, you’ll realize what you threw away.”
She stormed down the hallway. A minute later, the front door slammed hard enough to rattle the windows in their frames.
Silence settled over the dining room once again. This time, it wasn’t an oppressive, hostile silence. It felt light, breathable, and impossibly heavy all at once.
Uncle Joe cleared his throat, adjusting his jacket. “Well. That certainly puts a damper on the turkey.”
Dad let out a long, shuddering breath, sliding into the chair at the head of the table—the seat Melanie had just vacated. He looked tired, older than his years, but for the first time in three years, the cloud hanging over his eyes was gone.
May you like
He looked across the table at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Ryan,” Dad whispered, his voice catching. “Can you ever forgive me for being so blind?”
