Chapter 18 - Mom’s Part
When I was thirteen, Mom told me something she had waited to say.
“I owe you an apology that isn’t about the drawer.”
We were driving.
“What?”
“I let Scott define you before that night.”
I looked out window.
“He said you were manipulative.”
“I know.”
“I believed some.”
“I know.”
“He said you lied about food.”
“I know.”
“I should have asked you directly.”
I shrugged.
“That sounds like something Dr. Morgan told you to say.”
She laughed.
“Probably.”
Then serious.
“I don’t want to hide behind being manipulated.”
That surprised me.
“Scott deceived me. He also succeeded because I was tired and I wanted the marriage to work. Sometimes I accepted his explanation because asking harder questions would have created conflict.”
I looked at her.
“That was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She continued:
“You don’t have to make me feel better.”
I smiled.
“You’ve learned.”
She had.
That was why our relationship survived.
May you like
Not because she was perfect mother who magically knew.
Because once she understood, she stopped asking me to protect her from the truth.
