His mother stood.
“Mark?”
He looked furious.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
He looked around the room.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, he said,
“I was trying to fix everything.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“You were trying to control everything.”
I took out the final envelope.
“This one is yours.”
I handed it to him.
His hands were shaking.
He opened it.
Inside was a copy of a letter from the attorney.
It explained that the property transactions could potentially violate the terms of his divorce agreement.
Claire read over his shoulder.
Then she looked at him.
“You lied to me too.”
Mark sat down.
For the first time all evening, he looked completely defeated.
“I never meant for this to happen.”
Claire laughed through her tears.
“You always say that.”
Then she turned to me.
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head.
“Don’t apologize for him.”
