Chapter 6 - Margaret’s Version
Margaret requested mediation through Wesley before we even decided whether our marriage needed one.
I said no.
Then she sent a letter.
I read because I wanted to understand.
Not reconcile.
Margaret wrote:
Nora has intentionally mischaracterized a harmless family tradition.
Already bad.
She explained Patricia’s original collar prank as:
“legendary.”
Diane had:
“played along brilliantly.”
False according to Diane.
Then:
The matching collars were meant to symbolize that Nora and June were now officially Hale women.
A family welcome.
By calling us dogs.
Apparently.
She continued:
I never intended to fasten the collar tightly or endanger June.
Maybe true.
I believed she intended a photo.
Not physical injury.
That distinction mattered.
Then:
Nora escalated by striking me and damaging party property.
Also true.
Then:
Wesley had warned me Nora might not appreciate the joke, but I believed she needed inclusion, not exclusion.
There.
Wesley had warned.
More directly than he first told me?
I asked him.
“What exactly did you say to her?”
He answered:
“I told her you would hate it and she should cancel.”
“Did you say you would stop the party?”
“No.”
“Did you say you’d tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked ashamed.
“Because Mom said if I spoiled it, I was choosing you over family.”
I almost laughed.
“You’re married to me.”
“I know.”
“That is not an inappropriate choice.”
“I know.”
Late.
Then Margaret’s final paragraph:
If Nora wants to leave over one joke, that proves the joke revealed a deeper problem.
Strangely:
Correct.
It had.
May you like
Just not the problem she thought.
────────────────────
