Chapter 15 - Margaret Meets The Child She Used
Margaret was released after serving part of her sentence.
Benjamin was seven.
Emily received a letter.
Not from Margaret.
From her parole counselor.
Margaret requested a supervised meeting with Emily only.
No Benjamin.
Emily agreed.
They met in a counseling center.
Margaret entered slowly.
Age had changed her.
So had prison.
But Emily reminded herself appearance was not accountability.
Margaret sat.
“Thank you for coming.”
Emily nodded.
“I’m not bringing Benjamin.”
“I know.”
“You don’t contact him directly.”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t send gifts through Richard.”
“I understand.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
Emily waited.
“I spent years telling myself William was the monster.”
“He was.”
“Yes.”
Margaret looked down.
“But after he died, I kept his system alive.”
“Yes.”
“I thought I was preserving Noah.”
“You were preserving your grief by putting it into other people’s
bodies.”
Margaret flinched.
“Yes.”
Emily was surprised by the answer.
No defense.
Margaret continued.
“I don’t expect to be part of Benjamin’s life.”
“Good.”
“I hope someday he knows I’m sorry.”
“That will be his decision.”
“Yes.”
Emily looked at the woman who once stood beside the bassinet while
Richard slapped her and Tyler took her newborn.
The memory remained sharp.
But it no longer controlled her body the way it once had.
She could sit across from Margaret without becoming that terrified
patient again.
That was enough.
Margaret reached into her bag slowly.
Emily tensed.
“It’s only a photograph.”
She placed it on the table.
Noah at three.
He wore dinosaur pajamas and held a spoon.
Emily smiled despite herself.
“I haven’t seen this one.”
“Sarah sent it to me.”
Margaret pushed it toward her.
“It belongs with you if you want it.”
Emily considered.
Then took it.
“Thank you.”
Margaret cried.
Emily did not hug her.
She did not need to turn boundaries into cruelty or forgiveness into
access.
When she left, Richard waited outside with Benjamin.
Emily had not asked him to.
He was there because it was his custody afternoon and the center was on
the way to the zoo.
Benjamin ran to her.
“Mom!”
Emily hugged him.
Margaret watched through the window.
Benjamin did not see her.
Not yet.
Maybe someday.
Emily showed Richard Noah’s photograph.
He cried quietly.
“I remember those pajamas.”
Benjamin looked.
“Is that Noah?”
“Yes.”
“He looks like me.”
Emily and Richard exchanged a glance.
“He does,” Richard said.
Benjamin smiled.
“Cool.”
Then:
“Can we go see monkeys?”
Richard laughed.
“Yes.”
Emily handed Benjamin back his backpack.
“Have fun.”
He ran toward the car.
Richard paused.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
Emily looked at the counseling center.
Then at her son.
May you like
“Yes.”
This time, she meant it.
