Chapter 11 - Two Mothers
The meeting wasn't dramatic.
No champagne glasses shattered.
Nobody screamed.
It happened in a conference room.
Maren sat at one end.
I sat at the other.
Gavin sat between attorneys.
Two babies existed because of the choices represented in that room.
That fact changed everything.
Maren spoke first.
“You lied to me.”
Gavin stared at the table.
“You knew I was married.”
“Yes.”
Her voice shook.
“And I will carry that shame. But you told me Tessa was leaving you.”
I didn't respond.
Maren continued.
“You told me the house would be yours.”
Silence.
“You told me we'd raise our son there.”
Gavin finally looked up.
“I didn't know the trust terms.”
“That isn't the point.”
For once, Maren sounded stronger.
“You promised me something that belonged to someone else.”
That sentence stayed with me.
Because it described more than the house.
Gavin had promised Maren a life built from pieces stolen from mine.
And Maren had accepted because she wanted to believe him.
The lawyers continued.
Eventually agreements were reached.
Responsibilities established.
Boundaries written down.
When it ended, Maren approached me in the parking lot.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
She almost smiled.
“I deserved that.”
I looked at her son sleeping in his carrier.
“He didn't.”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
“Take care of him.”
“I will.”
We walked in opposite directions.
We were not friends.
We would never be friends again.
But we were no longer enemies either.
And that felt surprisingly peaceful.
Then my phone rang.
June.
“You need to come home.”
My heart stopped.
“Is Evelyn okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
June paused.
May you like
“Someone bought the house next door.”
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