Chapter 7 - RICHARD CAME TO MOM’S HOUSE WITHOUT THE RINGThree weeks after I returned from Toronto, Richard asked to see Mom.
She said no.
Two weeks later, he asked again.
No.
Then she surprised me.
“Next Tuesday.”
I frowned.
“You’re seeing him?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me there?”
“No.”
“Judith?”
“In the next room.”
Good.
Richard arrived at Mom’s house in a plain navy coat.
No signet ring.
Mom noticed.
“Where is it?”
He looked at his empty hand.
“I stopped wearing it.”
“Why?”
“It felt ridiculous.”
Mom said:
“The ring didn’t do anything.”
He looked at her.
That was almost exactly what Naomi had told me.
Family symbols are convenient scapegoats.
People make decisions.
Richard sat.
He started:
“I’m sorry this happened.”
Mom raised a hand.
“No.”
He stopped.
“That’s not an apology.”
Richard looked down.
Then tried again.
“I’m sorry Vanessa mistreated you.”
“No.”
Again.
“You are not apologizing for Vanessa.”
Silence.
Richard breathed in.
Then:
“I treated your vote as a business obstacle.”
Mom watched him.
“I wanted Stonebridge to close. I wanted the consulting arrangement. And when you changed your estate plan, I felt cheated by property that was never mine.”
There.
Good.
“I questioned your judgment because I disliked your decision.”
Mom said nothing.
“I asked Vanessa to document signs of decline. When she gave me examples, I did not verify them because they were useful.”
His voice shook.
“I helped create a process that made it easier for her to manipulate you.”
Mom looked down.
Then:
“Did you think I was stupid?”
Richard’s face broke.
“No.”
“Old?”
“Yes.”
“Sentimental?”
“Yes.”
“Controlling?”
“Yes.”
She almost smiled.
“Sometimes accurate.”
Richard laughed once through tears.
Then Mom became serious.
“But none of those things made my vote yours.”
“No.”
“And Dad’s company was never your inheritance while I was still alive.”
“No.”
“You understand that now?”
“Yes.”
Mom leaned back.
“I’m not ready to forgive you.”
Richard nodded.
“I know.”
“I may never trust you with business again.”
“I know.”
“You may see me socially someday.”
Richard’s eyes filled.
“That would be enough.”
Mom shook her head.
“No. Don’t say that.”
He looked confused.
“Enough makes it sound like you’re accepting whatever I give you. You’re not.”
Richard swallowed.
“Yes, Mom.”
That was the beginning.
May you like
Not reconciliation.
Accountability.
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