Chapter 1: The Box in the Middle of the Yard
My name is Linda, and my son Ryan is twenty-five, unemployed for over a year now, drowning in credit card debt, and seemingly allergic to the idea of doing anything about either problem.
My oldest friend, Barbara, came to stay with us for a while after her husband passed away last spring.
She's fifty-six, and thanks to her late husband's estate, extremely wealthy.
Ryan noticed within days.
He started finding excuses to be wherever Barbara was, complimenting her constantly, hugging her a beat too long, saying things that made my skin crawl.
"If every woman your age looked this hot," he told her once, grinning, "the world would honestly be a better place."
It got worse.
One evening, he actually offered to give her a massage.
I confronted him privately, horrified.
He just shrugged and said, "Mom, this is our chance to actually get rich.
I'm going to marry her."
I didn't know what to do, so I told Barbara everything.
She just smiled and said, "Don't worry about a thing.
He'll get exactly what he deserves."
Ryan's birthday arrived, and he planned a backyard party with his friends, asking me to stay away for the entire day so it could be "his thing." He invited Barbara personally.
She accepted, gave me a small wink, and told me quietly where to stand where nobody would notice me.
I slipped near the back fence, watching as Ryan introduced Barbara to every single friend as his new girlfriend, practically glowing with pride.
Partway through the party, Barbara raised her voice above the music.
"Well," she said, smiling warmly at him, "I think it's time to give you your gift."
The music stopped.
She carried a large box into the middle of the yard and set it down in front of him.
Ryan grinned, kneeling down to open it, completely unaware.
Barbara glanced toward the fence and winked directly at me.
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What was inside that box?
And what did Barbara say in front of all his friends?
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