“I know.”
Then he broke down. Full sobs. The kind that sound like choking.
“I chose her over you. I let her destroy you. And she was lying the whole time.”
I did not say I told you so.
I didn’t say anything.
I just listened to my son fall apart.
Finally, he whispered, “What do I do?”
“You leave her.”
“I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can. Mr. Brennan has divorce papers ready. You sign them today. Clean break. I’ll pay for the lawyer. You don’t owe her anything.”
“Mom, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Yes, you do. 429 Willow Street. The house I bought. It’s yours. You move in tomorrow.”
Silence.
“Why are you doing this?”
I thought about Daniel’s letters. About the life he wanted to give me. About the second chances we do not always get.
“Because you’re still my son,” I said. “And because I loved you before I loved anyone else in this world. But Robert, this is the last time. You choose her again, you walk away from this house, you lie to me one more time, and I’m done. Do you understand?”
