Chapter 10 - Two Mothers Finally Speak Alone
Victoria asked Evelyn to visit Jonathan’s grave.
Evelyn almost refused.
Then she went.
Daniel stayed home.
The conversation belonged to them.
Under a gray sky, Victoria finally said:
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I hated him too.”
“I know.”
“I loved him.”
“I know.”
Victoria laughed through tears.
“You always answered calmly when I wanted you to fight.”
“I was afraid fighting would cost me Daniel.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“And I used that.”
“Yes.”
No excuses.
Victoria placed flowers beside Jonathan’s grave.
“I told myself you were lucky because you got to stay near him.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“I watched my son call someone else Mom.”
Victoria cried.
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
“I packed his lunches. You signed the school forms.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I sat outside his room when he was sick. You went inside.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I had to act grateful for pieces of my own child.”
Victoria covered her face.
“I’m sorry.”
This time Evelyn believed she finally understood the cost.
They stood there for almost an hour.
Then Victoria said, “Jonathan loved you.”
“Yes.”
“He loved me too.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Yes.”
Both truths existed.
Jonathan’s love did not make his betrayal harmless.
Victoria’s love did not make her cruelty harmless.
Evelyn’s love did not make her silence painless.
Before leaving, Victoria asked:
“Can we ever be friends?”
Evelyn considered it.
“I don’t know.”
“Can we have coffee?”
A faint smile.
“That we can try.”
They did.
Once a month.
Sometimes twice.
They argued.
They occasionally laughed.
They never pretended the past had disappeared.
Daniel learned about the meetings months later.
“You two have coffee?”
Evelyn shrugged.
“She complains about the pastries.”
Victoria protested.
“They’re dry.”
Daniel stared at them.
“This is deeply unsettling.”
May you like
Both women laughed.
He loved the sound.
