“I did work.”
Mom began crying.
“I was scared. I felt trapped. I thought I would go back once I had figured things out.”
“You had 22 years,” I replied.
“Harder for you. Not for Dad.”
She pointed toward the birthday cards.
“He hid those from you. He made choices too.”
“He was wrong.”
My answer silenced her.
I had defended Dad my entire life.
“He should have told me,” I continued. “I am angry with him for that.”
Mom’s shoulders relaxed slightly, as though she believed she had finally found an ally.
Then I moved closer.
“But Dad’s choice was to stay. Yours was to keep leaving.”
Her husband placed the checks on the table and walked into the house.
Her son followed without looking back at her.
Mom reached toward my hand.
“I did love you.”
I stepped away.
“Maybe you did. But Dad made his love visible.”
