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“This is hard.”
“Is it? Would it be easier if my mother gave you Jack’s car? Then you could go off in style instead of the hooptymobile.”
That broke the tension, and they both sputtered, laughing.
“I’m sorry,” Ryan said. “It seems like I’m ungrateful. You’re right, I need a car I can take the kids around in. I’m not cooking, so the drive-through will get a workout.”
“Ryan, what are you talking about? You love to cook.”
“I don’t have any of my favorite implements there.”
“Go to Walmart.”
“I’ll get takeout. I just hate the drive-through.”
“That’s what DoorDash is for.”
“I don’t know how to use that,” he replied.
“Well, that’s too bad. You’ll have to rely on yourself from now on.”
“I liked you taking care of me.”
“Tough crap. It was a mistake. I’m not your mother.”
“I never treated you like my mother, did I?”
Lisa didn’t answer. “It’s time for you to go. I’ll help you with your bags.”
There were other loose ends; Ryan had her credit cards and checkbook that she should probably retrieve, but she’d give him through Monday to get his affairs in order, and then she’d tell him she was having the cards closed. The checking account was another issue, but the bank wouldn’t let him get at her singular accounts. The joint account had a finite amount, and once that was gone, it was gone.
He appeared with the suitcases she’d packed.
“You’d better open your own checking account on Monday, Ryan. And apply for your own credit cards.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.”
She already knew he’d put the apartment on his American Express card that she always paid the bill for. He’d have to figure it out.
“Your disability check goes into our joint account. You’ll want to change that right away.”
“How?”
“Go to your social security account, Ryan. The steps to change everything are right there. And get in touch with Lang, Smith and Romney, too. Don’t you have a pension coming from them? You’ll want access to that money, too.”
“You’re making it hard!” he cried.
“I am? This is your idea, Ryan. You’re welcome to let me keep getting that money, but I don’t know what you’ll live on, then. I’m not banking this dog and pony show.”
“I’ll ask Pam for a loan.”
“Do it and die,” Lisa shouted. “My mother gives you a dime, and I’m through with the lot of you. You want that? Are you that fucking selfish?”
“Calm down,” he said, going to her with outstretched arms that she shrugged off.
“Get out of here.”
Ryan dragged his bags to the door, and with one last look at her, he left. Before she could hear the garage door open, she quickly grabbed a jacket and left out of the sliders that led to the terrace. She’d walk the beach for a while to clear her head. A chilly wind blew off the water. Even better. The discomfort would overshadow the pain in her heart.
