Chapter 18 - The Gate Opens
Mom's birthday lunch was beautiful.
Trevor grilled fish.
Megan brought cake.
Aunt Patricia brought the infamous blender she'd once planned to bring during the invasion.
Rachel arrived with flowers.
At sunset, Mom and I stood near the gate.
She touched the post where the private-property notice had once hung.
"You know," she said, "I hated this gate."
"I know."
"I thought you put it up to punish us."
"I put it up because you wouldn't listen."
She nodded.
"That's worse."
"What?"
"Realizing you had to physically lock me out before I'd hear you."
I didn't answer.
Mom looked toward the house.
"I'm sorry it took that."
"So am I."
She squeezed my hand.
Then we walked back toward the others.
The gate closed quietly behind us.
Not as a wall.
As a boundary.
May you like
There was a difference.
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