Chapter 5 - RYAN’S FIRST EXPLANATIONRyan asked to meet at Rebecca’s office.
His lawyer came.
He began with the room.
“Mom’s condo had mold.”
“Show me the report.”
He hesitated.
“What?”
“The mold report.”
“I don’t have it.”
“Then how do you know?”
“She told me.”
Of course.
“How long was she staying?”
“A month.”
“Why Ethan’s room?”
“The master is ours.”
“Guest room?”
“My office.”
“Basement?”
“She has knee problems.”
Linda played tennis twice a week.
I said nothing.
Ryan continued:
“Ethan could sleep with us.”
“He had a room.”
“It was temporary.”
“You moved his bed.”
“Storage.”
“You removed his clothes.”
“Mom needed closet space.”
Every sentence became worse.
Then Rebecca put the loan packet on the table.
Ryan stopped.
“What is that?”
I watched him too carefully.
Recognition.
Then fear.
Not confusion.
“You tell me.”
He rubbed his jaw.
“It was just an application.”
“You signed my name?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your company applied.”
“Mom handles paperwork.”
There.
Linda.
Again.
“Why does Bennett Property Ventures need six hundred forty thousand dollars?”
Ryan looked toward his attorney.
No answer.
Then:
“We’re buying Mom a house.”
I almost laughed.
“With my house?”
“No.”
“With equity.”
“Equity in property you do not own.”
“It’s our family home.”
“It is held in my trust.”
“You’re my wife.”
“That is not a deed.”
His face hardened.
“I have paid expenses there for six years.”
“Utilities.”
“Repairs.”
“Some.”
“Mortgage?”
“There is no mortgage.”
Silence.
“Ryan.”
I leaned forward.
“You tried to borrow against an asset you do not own to buy your mother property.”
He looked away.
May you like
That was the beginning.
Not the end.
