Chapter 4 - THE FIRST BOUNDARY MARGARET COULDN’T TALK HER WAY THROUGH
Margaret arrived at eight the next morning.
Her key no longer worked.
She rang the bell continuously until Ryan opened the door.
He stayed in the doorway.
“You changed the locks.”
“Yes.”
Margaret looked genuinely offended.
“This is my son’s house.”
“My house.”
She glanced past him.
“Where’s Emily?”
“Resting.”
“I need to explain.”
“You can explain from there.”
Margaret stared.
Ryan had never blocked her from entering anywhere.
Not his dorm room.
Not his first apartment.
Not the hospital after his knee surgery.
Certainly not his home.
“She panicked.”
Ryan felt anger rise.
“Emily said no.”
“She is nine months pregnant and emotional.”
“She said no.”
“You weren’t here.”
That sentence hit the old pressure point.
Margaret knew it.
She continued:
“Someone had to handle the situation.”
Ryan almost stepped aside automatically.
Then Jessica appeared behind him.
Margaret’s face changed.
“You.”
Jessica crossed her arms.
“Morning, Mom.”
“You’ve been filling his head.”
Jessica laughed.
“You haven’t changed.”
Margaret looked at Ryan.
“You have no idea what your sister put this family through.”
Ryan said:
“I know what you told me.”
Margaret stopped.
That was different.
Ryan continued:
“I also know I never asked Jessica.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“This is ridiculous.”
She looked toward the stairs.
“Emily needs me.”
Emily’s voice came from above.
“No, I don’t.”
Everyone turned.
Emily stood at the top of the staircase wearing a robe.
One hand rested beneath her belly.
Margaret softened instantly.
“Sweetheart—”
“Don’t call me that.”
Margaret froze.
Emily came down slowly.
“You called my doctor without my permission.”
“I was worried.”
“You changed the nursery after I asked you not to.”
“You were exhausted.”
“You told Ryan I was getting too anxious to be alone.”
“You are anxious.”
Emily reached the bottom step.
“And yesterday you tried to force something into my mouth.”
Margaret’s eyes flashed.
“I was trying to calm you down.”
Jessica whispered:
“There it is.”
Ryan looked at her.
Jessica said:
“She always calls control calming.”
Margaret stepped toward her.
“You were impossible.”
Ryan moved between them.
“Leave.”
Margaret stared at him.
“What?”
“Leave.”
“You’re choosing her over your mother?”
Ryan looked at Emily.
Then Jessica.
Then back at Margaret.
“No.”
His voice stayed quiet.
May you like
“I’m finally stopping you from making every boundary into a loyalty test.”
For the first time in Ryan’s life, Margaret had no immediate answer.
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