Chapter 9 - NOAH ASKED THE QUESTION MARGARET COULD NOT ANSWER
Noah was sixteen when he agreed to mediated meeting.
Lily did not attend.
His choice.
Margaret looked much older.
She started:
“I’m sorry I slapped you.”
Noah said:
“Why did you?”
She answered:
“I panicked.”
“Because Lily saw ring?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Were you afraid she’d tell Mom?”
“Yes.”
Then Noah asked:
“If you loved us, why was keeping a ring more important than not hitting me?”
Margaret froze.
That was question.
Not theft.
Not debt.
Not Richard.
Priorities.
She cried.
“I wasn’t thinking.”
Noah shook head.
“You were.”
Then:
“You were thinking about yourself.”
There.
Margaret eventually nodded.
“Yes.”
Then Noah said:
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
Not forgiveness.
Truth.
Then:
“Do you forgive me?” she asked.
He thought.
“I don’t know.”
Good.
Then:
“Do I have to?”
“No.”
Growth.
Then he left.
Later told me:
“I don’t hate her.”
Enough.
May you like
Lily chose not to meet until adulthood.
Also valid.
