Chapter 25 - Linda and Me
Linda requested coffee.
Three years after the room incident.
No lawyers.
Public café.
I agreed.
She looked older.
Still elegant.
“Do you hate me?”
“Sometimes.”
She nodded.
“I hated you.”
“I knew.”
“Not because of money.”
“What then?”
“You came into Ryan’s life and suddenly every rule changed.”
There.
Before me:
Linda and Ryan operated as a unit.
Business.
Family.
Money.
Then Ryan married.
A new boundary appeared.
Spouse.
Child.
Home.
Linda experienced normal differentiation as exclusion.
Then Ethan became center of household.
She loved him but resented what he represented:
Ryan’s priorities no longer defaulted to her.
The room incident concentrated that.
She needed housing.
Assumed son’s home was hers.
Saw grandson’s room as most comfortable.
Why would a four-year-old outrank her?
That sounds ugly when spoken.
She spoke it anyway.
“I thought age gave me a claim.”
“To what?”
“My son.”
I waited.
She corrected:
“To his loyalty.”
There.
“Does he owe you loyalty?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“But not obedience.”
Progress.
I said:
“I slapped you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
Linda looked surprised.
“You apologized in court.”
“Not to you.”
She touched her coffee cup.
“Thank you.”
Then:
“I slapped Ethan.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded.
No hug.
No friendship.
Peace can be narrow.
May you like
Enough.
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