Chapter 8 - HELEN TOLD THE TRUTH
My mother asked to meet.
Public place.
No children.
I agreed.
She looked smaller without Robert beside her.
“I notarized it.”
I said nothing.
“He brought me the guaranty.”
“Did he sign my name?”
“I didn’t watch.”
“Mom.”
She cried.
“I knew it wasn’t you.”
There it was.
“Why?”
“Because the bank was going to cut him off.”
“So you certified a lie.”
“Yes.”
“Did Dad forge my signature?”
“He said he could make it look close enough.”
I felt nauseated.
“Did you understand they could come after me personally?”
“He said it would never happen.”
“That’s your defense?”
“No.”
She wiped her face.
“It’s what I told myself.”
Then I asked about the party.
“Why my children?”
She looked ashamed.
“Robert was angry at you.”
“So you punished them?”
“I wanted them to understand family contributes.”
“By serving adults while being insulted?”
“I lost perspective.”
“No. You made choices.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
May you like
That mattered.
For once, no excuse.
