Page 118 of Playing the Game
She takes me in from head to toe with a warm smile. “You turned out so well. You’re such a handsome man. Just look at you. You look just like your father at your age.”
I snap myself out of my thoughts and put on the armor I need. “Joan, why don’t you tell me why you’re here?”
“Joan?” Her gaze turns to steel. “That’s no way to greet me. Where are your manners?”
“You’ll need to excuse me. I didn’t have a mother to teach me.”
She blinks coldly. “I see you want to get straight to business.”
“This is your game. I just need to know the rules.”
“Let’s take a walk and find our common ground.” She gestures to the backyard.
She sets off in the direction of a small cornfield. I nod once and follow her.
This has got to be the creepiest moment of my life.
The scene is the setting of a horror film. I never thought I’d find myself in one with my mother leading me to my death. We walk in silence, and all the while, my heart rattles.
When we get to the edge of the field, she dips her chin. “We’ll have more privacy in here.”
She points to a row between the cornstalks. I want to turn around and leave, but I came here for the truth, and she’s going to give it to me.
I tip my head. “You first. You know the way better than I do.”
“There’s enough room for us to walk side by side. I think that’s best since this meeting is about making an alliance.” She waves me in. “Come on, son. We have a lot to discuss.”
With my head high, I join her despite my desire to disobey. “Do you want to start?”
“I could, but you’re the one who put this in motion, so why don’t you?”
“No, you did that when you came after me and my girlfriend.”
“Tsk,tsk, Hunter. Dorothy Fisher’s no longer with you. If this meeting is going to go well, you need to stick to the facts.” She looks my way with her eyebrows raised.
I have no other choice but to relent. “Done. Now tell me what you want from me.”
“I want back in your life.”
Her words cause me to stumble into a cornstalk, then stop and face her. “That will never happen.”
“Yes, it will. It’s only a matter of time. Either we do thisamicably, or we can do it by force. The choice is yours.” She steps to me with warning vibes coming off her in waves.
“Fine. I’ll play your way.”
“That’s better.” She strolls down the lane with her hands hooked together behind her back. “You’re aware I want you to have a child, and you’re going to give him to me.”
How does she know it’s a boy?
Isabella.
I really despise that woman.
A strange protectiveness takes over me. “He’s my son, and I don’t plan on handing him over to you. No matter how much money you promised to pay Isabella, I won’t let you take him.”
My mother faces me and pins me with a death stare. “I’ll make this easy on you. Your son will be raised by me.”
“No, he won’t.” I huff at her audacity. “You didn’t want Jonah or me, so why do you want my son? This makes no sense.”
