Chapter 13
Judith requested mediation before resolving her criminal and civil cases.
Nora declined.
Then reconsidered six months later.
One meeting.
No Graham.
Judith entered wearing a dark-blue suit.
Without the house, the dining table, or Graham beside her, she looked smaller.
Not harmless.
Just smaller.
She spoke first.
“I am sorry I pushed you.”
Nora waited.
Judith continued.
“I was angry.”
“Why?”
“You were destroying Graham.”
“No.”
Judith’s jaw tightened.
“You were willing to let Cypress fail.”
“It was his investment.”
“He is your husband.”
“He was.”
Judith looked down.
Nora continued.
“You guaranteed four million dollars.”
“Yes.”
“You never disclosed that before voting on the trust loan.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you would have called it a conflict.”
“It was.”
Judith looked irritated.
That answer told Nora more than tears would have.
Judith still believed family need sat in a category above ordinary rules.
Then Nora asked:
“Did Graham tell you to push me?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you the stairs were off camera?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you use them?”
Judith hesitated.
“Because I didn’t want another public argument.”
Nora stared.
“That stopped being true the moment you agreed witnesses mattered.”
Judith closed her eyes.
After a long silence:
“I thought if you struck me, Edwin would suspend you for a week.”
“And then?”
“We’d approve the loan.”
“And then?”
“Cypress would repay Hartwell.”
“And then?”
“Everything could be reviewed calmly.”
Nora almost laughed.
There it was again.
After.
Judith looked at her.
“I thought Graham could fix the project.”
“Maybe he could.”
“He’s talented.”
“He is.”
That surprised Judith.
Nora continued.
“Talent did not entitle him to hide risk.”
Judith’s eyes filled.
“I was trying to save my son.”
“You pushed his wife down stairs.”
Judith looked away.
Nora’s voice softened.
“You were so busy saving the part of Graham that had money and status attached to it that you helped destroy the part that still had a marriage.”
Judith began crying.
Nora did not.
Then Judith asked:
“Do you hate him?”
“No.”
“Do you hate me?”
Nora thought.
“No.”
Judith looked surprised.
Nora continued.
May you like
“I don’t need hate to stay away from someone.”
That ended the meeting.
