Chapter 16 - MY MOTHER’S WARNING
My mother visited the week after the divorce became final.
She brought no advice.
Just soup.
That was why I loved her.
We sat at the relocated dining table.
She looked around.
“This room feels better.”
“Lily moved the table.”
“Smart girl.”
Then she touched my hand.
“Do you remember what I told you before your wedding?”
I smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
“Generosity is beautiful.”
“But watch what people do once they expect it.”
My eyes filled.
“You were right.”
She shook her head.
“I wish I hadn’t been.”
That mattered.
There is no joy in being right about your child’s pain.
Then I asked.
“Why didn’t you push harder?”
“Would you have listened?”
“No.”
“Then I would have become another person trying to control your marriage.”
She squeezed my hand.
“I wanted you to learn without losing yourself.”
“I almost did.”
“No.”
“You bent.”
“You didn’t disappear.”
I looked toward the kitchen.
For years, I had believed leaving meant failure.
Now I understood staying can also be failure when staying requires shrinking.
My mother asked.
“What will you do with the house?”
“Keep it.”
“Business?”
“Expand.”
“You?”
I laughed.
“What about me?”
“What are you going to do that has nothing to do with surviving anyone?”
The question stopped me.
For twelve years, my time had been divided between work.
Children.
Nathan.
His family.
Problems.
Fixes.
What did I want?
I did not know.
May you like
That answer excited me.
“I think I’ll find out.”
