“Do it,” he said.
Laura’s voice remained calm.
“I also want you to consider changing passwords on accounts that are solely yours.”
“I already did that this morning.”
“Good.”
“Do not lock her out of joint accounts.”
“I have not.”
“And do not negotiate repayment directly with Dylan.”
“I will not.”
Ethan thanked her.
Before hanging up, Laura asked if he had eaten.
Ethan realized he had not.
“No.”
“Eat something.”
He almost laughed.
“That is legal advice?”
“That is human advice.”
Ethan ordered a sandwich from the café downstairs.
While he waited, Owen called.
Ethan nearly ignored it.
Then he answered.
His brother skipped greetings.
“Mom called me.”
Ethan sighed.
“Of course she did.”
“She said Samantha called her crying.”
Ethan sat down.
“What did Samantha tell Mom?”
“That you left after finding out she met Dylan last night.”
“Met Dylan.”
“That is what Mom said.”
Ethan laughed once without humor.
“She slept with him.”
Owen went silent.
“Jesus.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure?”
“She admitted it.”
Owen cursed quietly.
Ethan waited.
“Where are you?” Owen asked.
“At the company apartment.”
“Do you want me to come over?”
“No.”
“You should not be alone.”
“I need to be alone.”
Owen accepted that.
He had always been good at hearing boundaries.
“What did she tell Mom exactly?” Ethan asked.
“She said you had been distant for months.”
“She said you two had one bad night.”
“She said you refused to talk and immediately hired a lawyer.”
Ethan rubbed his eyes.
“She left out the secret meetings, the lies, and the money.”
“What money?”
Ethan hesitated.
Then he told Owen about the transfers.
Owen’s response was immediate.
“She gave him twelve grand?”
“It looks that way.”
“From your savings?”
“Our savings.”
“That is insane.”
“She says it was a loan.”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Did he pay anything back?”
“Not that I can see.”
Owen was silent for several seconds.
Then his voice changed.
“Ethan, do not go near that guy.”
“I am not going near him.”
“I mean it.”
“I hired a lawyer, Owen.”
“I am not planning a parking-lot confrontation.”
“Good.”
Ethan heard traffic in the background.
“Where are you?”
“Outside Mom’s house.”
“You drove there?”
“She was upset.”
Ethan felt another wave of fatigue.
“Tell her I will call her tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“And tell her not to contact Samantha on my behalf.”
Owen paused.
“That may be harder.”
“Tell her anyway.”
“I will.”
Before ending the call, Owen said something Ethan did not expect.
“You do not have to decide your whole life today.”
