Chapter 12 - Stephanie Faced Margaret Without Charles
Stephanie asked Margaret for a meeting.
Margaret agreed on one condition.
Charles would not attend.
“This happened between her and me.”
They met at Willowbrook’s kitchen table.
The same table where Charles had opened the legal envelope.
Stephanie wore jeans and a plain sweater.
No designer clothes.
Margaret noticed.
She did not praise the performance.
Stephanie began:
“I’m sorry.”
Margaret said:
“For what?”
Stephanie swallowed.
“For pushing you.”
“And?”
“For saying you smelled like manure.”
“And?”
“For doing it in front of everyone.”
Margaret waited.
Stephanie’s eyes filled.
“I wanted those people to think I belonged with them more than I wanted
to treat you like a person.”
Margaret nodded slowly.
That was the answer.
Stephanie did not blame Richard.
She did not mention Project Willow.
She did not call it stress.
She admitted she was ashamed of the farm.
Ashamed of Margaret’s handmade dress.
Afraid her social circle would see the marriage as a step down.
Margaret looked at her.
“You were going to marry my son.”
“I know.”
“And you were ashamed of where he came from.”
“Yes.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“That would’ve hurt him eventually.”
“I know.”
Stephanie asked whether Margaret could forgive her.
Margaret answered:
“Maybe someday.”
Stephanie nodded.
“Fair.”
Then Margaret added:
“But forgiveness wouldn’t make you ready to marry Charles.”
Stephanie began crying.
“I know that too.”
When she left, Margaret stood alone on the porch.
Charles called later.
“How did it go?”
Margaret answered:
May you like
“Like two adults finally saying things they should’ve said before a
church full of people had to watch us fail.”
