Chapter 16
Marlene was charged in connection with the forged mortgage attempt.
Not as heavily as Raymond.
But charged.
She cried when Daniel told us.
Claire did not cry until later.
Then she cried for three hours.
Not because she thought Marlene was innocent.
Because guilty mothers still leave holes.
Marlene accepted a plea after Raymond tried to blame everything on her.
That was when her last illusion died.
She came to the house before entering treatment and court supervision.
Daniel arranged it.
Claire agreed to ten minutes.
We sat in the living room.
Marlene looked at the sketch still hanging on the wall.
“You kept that?”
I said, “Yes.”
She began to cry.
Claire sat stiffly beside me.
Marlene turned to her.
“I lied to you.”
Claire’s mouth trembled.
“Yes.”
“I wanted Raymond to love me like he did before I had responsibilities.”
I almost laughed at the selfishness.
I didn’t.
Marlene continued.
“I was jealous of your father because you loved him naturally. I thought if Raymond came back, I could become the woman I imagined I should have been.”
Claire whispered, “So I was part of your fantasy.”
Marlene closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
That truth hurt.
But it was better than another excuse.
“I am going away for a while,” Marlene said. “Treatment. Legal supervision. I don’t expect forgiveness.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Good.”
Marlene nodded.
“I deserve that.”
When she left, Claire did not hug her.
I did not force it.
After the door closed, Claire leaned against me.
“I feel mean.”
“You are allowed boundaries.”
“She’s my mom.”
“Yes.”
“I love her.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t trust her.”
“That is allowed too.”
Outside, Marlene stood by her car for a long time before driving away.
I watched through the curtain.
I had loved her once.
Maybe part of me still did.
May you like
But love without truth had nearly cost me everything.
I closed the curtain.
