Chapter 18 - My Son Leaves
Harrison moved out on a rainy Saturday.
Not because a sheriff came.
Not because I changed the locks.
Because he packed his own boxes and carried them to a rented truck.
That mattered to me.
He left the guest room cleaner than I had seen it in months.
On the bed was an envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Mom,
I kept asking you to make everything easier because I was ashamed of how badly I had let my life fall apart. Every time Sloan crossed a line, I told myself keeping her calm was the same as keeping my marriage together. Then I started using you to do it. I am sorry for the money. I am sorry for Dad's watch. I am sorry I watched that cake fall and looked at the ground.
I sat on the bed for a long time.
He found me there.
"You read it?"
"Yes."
He looked nervous.
"Do you hate me?"
"No."
His eyes filled.
"Do you forgive me?"
I thought carefully.
"I'm working on it."
He nodded.
That answer hurt him less than a lie would have.
At the front door, he hugged me.
Not the quick one-arm hug he had given me for years.
A real one.
"I'll pay everything back."
"I expect you to."
He laughed through tears.
Then he left.
The house became silent.
At first, I hated it. Then I heard the refrigerator hum and opened every window.
I put Daniel's watch back in the safe.
Then I took it out again and placed it on his desk where I could see it.
At four thirty, Detective Larkin called.
"Mrs. Bennett, I wanted you to hear this before it reaches anyone else."
I sat down.
"Okay."
"The prosecutor approved charges related to the forged authorization and attempted financial fraud."
I closed my eyes.
"Against Sloan?"
"Yes."
Then he added, "And Harrison will likely be required to answer for the unauthorized transfers separately."
My relief disappeared.
May you like
Consequences had finally arrived.
They were not choosing sides.
