Chapter 4
I looked through the peephole.
A well-dressed woman stood in the hallway with her hair pinned up without a strand out of place, and her face was set in impatience and disdain.
It was Jonathan's mother, Linda Reed.
Ten years had gone by and she hadn't changed. She still looked at everyone as though they had personally let her down.
I took a deep breath and pulled Nathan behind me.
"Nathan, go to your room. Mom needs to talk to someone," I said.
"But I want to stay," he said.
"Listen to me," I said.
My voice brooked no argument.
Nathan glanced at me, then at the closed door, nodded obediently, and ran back to his room.
I steadied myself and opened the door.
Linda's eyes went over me like a searchlight and stopped on my plain house clothes, and her mouth curled.
"Ten years, and this is what you've turned into?" she said.
She didn't step inside, just stood at the doorway like some kind of examiner.
"Is there something you need?" I asked, keeping my voice level.
"My son was on television. Did you see it?" Her chin came up and her voice filled with pride. "The highest award in the country! Do you have any idea what that means? He's a scientist who brings honor to the whole field."
"I saw it. Congratulations," I said.
"Congratulations?" She let out a cold laugh. "Save the act. I came here so you could see it clearly. Leaving Jonathan was the best thing that ever happened to him! Without you weighing him down, he could finally get somewhere."
She had come all this way to feel superior.
I couldn't be bothered to argue.
"If you're finished, I'm closing the door," I said.
"What kind of attitude is that?" My indifference set her off. "Emily, let me be clear. Don't imagine you have any claim on my son now.
"Do you know what the Reed family is these days? You're an office worker. You aren't fit to shine his shoes!"
She pulled an envelope out of her expensive leather bag while she talked.
"There's 30 thousand dollars in here. Take it and call it pity. Stay away from the Reed family from now on, and stop embarrassing yourself in public."
She tried to shove the envelope into my arms.
I stepped back, dodging it.
"I don't need it," I said.
Just then, Nathan's door opened a crack, and his head came out, probably because he was worried about me.
Linda's gaze snapped right to him.
She narrowed her eyes, staring at Nathan.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Nathan's features were almost a carbon copy of Jonathan's childhood photos.
"Who is that boy?" Linda asked, and her tone had turned into an inspection.
"My son," I said calmly, and I shifted to block her view without making it obvious.
"You remarried?" She looked surprised, and then something knowing came over her face. "That figures. A woman like you can't get through life without a man. Who was it? The boy looks bright enough, but I imagine his father is some nobody."
Her words were as ugly as she could make them.
My hands curled into fists.
"That has nothing to do with you," I said.
"No, it doesn't," Linda said, and the contempt in her eyes went deeper. "I'm only reminding you to keep your household in order. Don't get ideas.
"Jonathan says his biggest regret is not having a child. I'm warning you. Don't try to use that bastard, whoever his father is, to attach yourself to the Reed family."
Bastard.
I heard the phrase and felt everything in me go still and cold.
I looked at her sour face and smiled.
"Mrs. Reed, you can relax. My son has me, and that's all he needs. As for the Reed family, we could never measure up, and we will never come knocking."
I put weight on the words "my son."
"See that you don't," she said.
Linda seemed pleased with my attitude.
She put the envelope away and gave me one last look, the kind a person gives a pile of trash.
"I'm going. Don't forget what I told you," she said.
She turned, and her heels rang sharp and hard on the floor.
I slammed the door shut and locked it.
I leaned against the door, feeling like all my strength had drained away.
Nathan ran out of his room and hugged my leg.
"Mom, who was that lady? She was so mean!"
I knelt down and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Just a stranger, Nathan. Don't be scared. Mom's here," I said.
I felt him trembling in my arms.
Linda showing up at my door set off an alarm in my head that would not stop.
They were starting to think Jonathan's life was missing something.
They'd start searching for an "heir."
I didn't dare imagine what would happen if they found Nathan
I hugged Nathan, repeating that everything was fine, as much for myself as for him.
We couldn't stay here any longer.
We had to leave, and fast.