“Ten million?” Paris cocks her head. “Who said it would be ten million? Your original demand was one million, so that’s what I brought.”
Across the small table, Ruby’s lips flatten again, her eyes darkening into twin storm clouds. Twenty-five years ago, this slight change in her mother’s facial expression would have struck terror into Joey’s young, soft heart, turning her insides into mush as she braced herself for the imminent explosion. This face meant a beating was coming. This face meant slaps and punches and kicks.
But she’s not Joey anymore. She’s Paris. And all she sees when she looks at Ruby is a miserable old woman who’s mad she’s not getting her way.
“That’s not what we agreed.” Ruby’s voice is low.
This, too, used to be scary. The drop in tone, a decibel above a whisper, was worse than any shriek or shout. Not anymore. Once you understand how the magician does their tricks, they no longer dazzle.
“I never agreed to anything.” Paris moves her chair back and stands up. “When did I ever say I’d give you ten million dollars? One million for the urn, and also your life. I could have just come here and killed you, you know. Trust me, I gave it serious consideration. Who’d even care if you were gone?”
She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out the cashier’s check. Unfolding it, she holds it up. Under PAY TO THE ORDER OF, the name RUBY REYES is typed and clearly visible, as are the words ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS in the line where the amount is specified.
It looks legit, because it is. The bank manager in Seattle questioned her need for a paper method of payment, suggesting that Paris move her money via wire transfer instead. Should the cashier’s check be lost or destroyed, it would be an arduous process to reclaim the funds, and could take months. Paris thanked her for her suggestion, and said she’d still take the check.
“I’m not you,” Paris says to her mother. “I’d rather pay you than be you.”
“Oh, get off your moral high horse.” Ruby barks a laugh. “You think we’re so different, you and me? We’re exactly the same. We’re survivors. Look who you married. You gave yourself the life I wanted Charles to give me. I taught you well, you ungrateful little grasshopper. You owe me, and I want my ten million. Don’t be greedy. We both know you can afford it.”
“You know what?” Paris says, as if something has just occurred to her. “I actually don’t have to do this with you. In fact, I’ve changed my mind. No deal. Tell anyone you want about the urn. Nobody will believe you, because no matter how you got out, you’re still a convicted murderer.”
The look of shock on Ruby’s face is almost comical. Paris slips the check back into her pocket and walks calmly out the front door, bracing herself for a push or shove that might send her flying off the porch. But Ruby doesn’t follow.
Paris heads toward Drew’s car, still parked in the same spot on the other side of the pond, and then finally hears footsteps coming up fast from behind.
In the grass, she whirls around to face her mother. She knew Ruby wouldn’t let her leave without a final negotiation. Paris is aware that her back is to the pond, a little too close to the edge for her liking. But if this is where their last conversation has to happen, so be it.
The frogs have gone silent.
“Just take the urn,” Ruby says, thrusting it toward her. “And give me the check. I can work with a million. It’s fine.”
“It’s fine? You can work with it?” Paris stares at her in wonder. “Do you even hear yourself? How is it that you came to believe you deserve things that aren’t yours?”
“Give me the check, and we’ll never see each other again.” Ruby gives the urn a quick shake, her arms still extended. “It’s a small price to pay in the scheme of things, isn’t it? You tried to get rid of me once, when you helped put me in prison. Just give me the check, and you’ll be rid of me forever. I promise.”
She promises? When has Ruby Reyes ever kept a promise that didn’t benefit her?
Paris finally takes the urn.
“Well?” Ruby holds out her hand.
Tucking the urn carefully under one arm, Paris reaches into her back pocket for the check.
And then she rips it in half.
She does it so quickly, it takes Ruby a second to grasp what just happened. Only when Paris tears it again does her mother scream in fury, a sound so intensely satisfying that it was worth a million dollars just to hear it.