Chapter 11 - DIANE'S BEST ARGUMENT
Diane hired attorney Lauren Pierce after Ryan asked her to leave the guesthouse.
Not to attack him.
To protect her rights.
The home belonged jointly to Ryan and Claire.
Diane had been living there temporarily.
She moved into a hotel voluntarily.
Then she requested a mediated family meeting.
Ryan almost refused.
Claire said:
“You need to hear her defend herself when she can’t change the subject.”
They met with therapist and counsel nearby.
Diane did not deny the adoption.
She did not deny the letters.
Her defense was harder.
“When Laura came back, she was better. Not healed. Better.”
Ryan stared.
“She had two relapses in three years.”
Laura had not mentioned that.
Diane produced medical-release records Laura had once shared during litigation preparation.
Two psychiatric admissions after Ryan’s adoption.
Real.
Then:
“Your grandfather was cruel. Yes. He pressured her.”
Diane’s voice shook.
“But Ryan, I was afraid she would take you into instability.”
“Then why not tell me at eighteen?”
Diane stopped.
There was no clinical argument for that.
“Because by then I was selfish.”
Silence.
“I had spent eighteen years being your mother.”
She cried.
“And I could not survive becoming the woman who had kept you from your real one.”
May you like
Ryan stared.
That was the first answer that did not pretend to be noble.
