They'd made a deal, and a good one. He was going to give her money every month, and then she was going to keep her damned mouth shut about her whereabouts. She wasn't going to bother his siblings.
She was going to be a decent human being for once in her life.
Somehow, she couldn't even manage that. Figured.
When her car finally did appear, it took all his inner strength not to rush to the driver’s seat and start screaming at the top of his lungs. He still didn't even know what he'd scream, but he knew it wouldn't be good. And since she'd likely brought her kids with her, it wasn't a scene he was willing to make.
So he waited as the twins got out of the car and scuttled toward the swing sets, and then he folded his arms over his chest as Sharon ambled from the car and onto the turf. When she saw him, she blinked once and then had the nerve to smile.
"Matt, I was wondering if we'd ever meet."
"We've met," he said through gritted teeth, but she seemed to ignore the hostility. She swept across the ground, a book in her hand and that stupid fake smile still plastered on her face.
"Yes, sorry, I know that. Insensitive of me. I just meant, well, in all these years I've never seen you."
"You probably never wanted to, either."
"Excuse me?" She raised her eyebrows, but her warm, jovial tone still hadn't changed. She still hadn't so much as acknowledged Matt's towered rage.
"You are in this for the money. What, does your husband not make enough? You needed to extort the only other family—"
She raised her hand. "Matt, I don't know where this is coming from, but I'd like it very much if you could start at the beginning."
"You lied to me," he practically spat.
"I... lied to you?"
"You made me a promise. So long as I kept paying you—"
"Ah, that." She nodded knowingly as if she herself had meant to bring this point up and he'd beaten her to it. "Well, I had a good think about it, and I decided that I couldn't allow you to determine whether or not the other kids knew about me. I'm their mother, and—"
"You're not their mother. And I know what's good for them a hell of a lot more than you."
"Now, Matt, honey, I know you're upset—"
"Upset? Upset?" He was practically shaking but somehow managed to keep his voice down. A quick glance at the kids proved that, while confused, they weren't alarmed. Good. At least that was one thing going in his favor.
"Well, with Andy getting married, I thought she might like the option of having me attend—"
"You would have that right? You would ask that of her? Or was it just because she's another source of cash for you?"
"I don't understand this obsession with the money."
"You had a good long think and decided you'd tell Andy and Derrick where you are, but you wouldn't deny my checks?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Well, honey, I read the paper. I've been keeping up on you. I know you won't be able to afford to—"
"Keep you silent?" He shook his head. "You are unbelievable. I was right to have never spoken to you."
"You—"
"No, no, I'm talking now. You are despicable. Don't come near me or my family. Not ever again, you understand?" He made for his car, got behind the wheel, and sped off as quickly as he could.
He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going, all he knew was the flood of release that washed over him as soon as he saw her stricken face.
He'd been right on one count—this woman was not and never had been his mother. But talking to her? That was the best decision he'd made. All the feelings, all the hurt that he'd bottled up and hid away had finally come out, finally loosed themselves. It was like a weight had been lifted from his chest, his shoulders, and for the first time in years, he could breathe properly again.
His phone rang in his pocket, and he pulled it out to find Derrick on the line.