Chapter 11 - Colin says he was trying to save the marriage
Colin requested a meeting.
Lawyers present.
No Alessandra.
I agreed because I needed to understand what he thought he had done.
He looked exhausted.
“Your daughter is leaving me.”
“That decision is hers.”
“You’re helping.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve wanted this.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“You never liked me.”
“That’s different.”
He leaned forward.
“You walked into our house and acted like you knew everything.”
“I walked into your house and found my daughter unconscious.”
“She was exhausted.”
“Yes.”
“Women get exhausted after babies.”
“Not an argument.”
He rubbed his face.
Then:
“I canceled the nurse.”
“Why?”
“I told you.”
“No. You told everyone different versions.”
He looked at his lawyer.
Then back at me.
“I wanted our house back.”
“From one nurse at night?”
“From you.”
There.
“I was tired of every problem becoming Giorgio’s solution.”
“So you lied to Alessandra.”
“I thought if I told her I wanted it canceled she would call you and you would override me.”
“So you told her I did it.”
“Yes.”
“And you told my office she wanted it.”
His face twisted.
“Yes.”
“Why involve Marcia?”
“She offered to help.”
“She assigned chores to a woman three weeks out from surgery.”
“My mom believes activity helps.”
“Your mother is not an obstetrician.”
“I know.”
“Did you know Alessandra was eating poorly?”
“I knew she skipped meals.”
“Sleeping two or three hours?”
“I knew Theo was difficult.”
“Did you know she was dizzy?”
He hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
There.
“When?”
“She said she saw black spots when she stood.”
My hands went cold.
“And you did what?”
“I told her to call the doctor.”
“Did she?”
“I don’t know.”
I stood.
Rebecca put one hand on my forearm.
Not because I was going to hit him.
Because everyone in the room knew the possibility had a history.
I sat.
That was progress.
Small.
May you like
Real.
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