“She’s grieving.”
“So am I.”
“I know.”
He turned toward her.
“Then why would she leave me alone?”
Margaret
looked at him for a long time.
“Dominic, she was alone long before she got on that plane.”
He stared at her.
“That’s not fair.”
“No,” Margaret said quietly. “It isn’t.”
He looked away.
She continued.
“When Sophie was sick, Lauren took time off work. When she needed a school meeting, Lauren attended. When she wanted you to read a bedtime story, Lauren made excuses for why you weren’t there.”
“I was working.”
“Not always.”
His jaw tightened.
Margaret looked toward the butterfly on the wall.
“I watched you give Vanessa flowers while your wife stood beside you at family dinners.”
“Vanessa and I grew up together.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
He turned toward her.
“Mom, don’t start.”
She sighed.
“That’s what you always said when Lauren tried to talk to you.”
