“Enough.”
“Mom.”
“Robert.”
I set down my glass.
“Right now, you need to focus on your job, your life, and proving you can stand on your own. When you’ve done that, when I’m sure you’re solid, then we’ll talk about the rest. But not before.”
He wanted to push. I could see it. But he nodded instead.
“Okay.”
In September, Linda called.
I had unblocked her number by then, more out of curiosity than forgiveness.
“Margaret, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About Vanessa. She came to my house last week. She said you stole money from Daniel’s estate. That you manipulated Robert. She asked me to testify in a lawsuit.”
“And what did you say?”
Silence.
“Linda, what did you say?”
“I said I’d think about it.”
Her voice sounded small. Defensive.
“Margaret, she offered me fifteen thousand dollars. I’m broke. Tom’s not paying child support. The bank is threatening to foreclose.”
