Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO CALLED GRIEF A BAD HABIT
Margaret came to the mansion that afternoon.
She did not deny receiving Rebecca’s letters.
“I screened them.”
Kevin stared.
“You screened correspondence from my dead wife’s attorney?”
“You were barely functioning.”
“I was CEO of a company worth nine billion dollars.”
“You were sleeping three hours a night and drinking scotch for dinner.”
Both statements were true.
That complicated his anger.
Kevin placed the cancellation email on the kitchen island.
“Did you stop the boys’ therapy?”
Margaret glanced at it.
“Yes.”
“Using my name?”
“I used your office.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
She removed her gloves.
“You told me to handle the household.”
“I did not tell you to impersonate me.”
“You were grateful when I did.”
Kevin went quiet.
That was also true.
Margaret had taken over everything he could not bear to touch.
Including grief.
Especially grief.
“Why stop therapy?”
“Because every session made them worse.”
“According to who?”
“I watched them.”
“You aren’t a child psychologist.”
“I’m their grandmother.”
Kevin laughed once.
“Apparently everyone in this family thinks relationships are professional qualifications.”
Margaret’s eyes hardened.
“You want to know what I saw? Two little boys who cried every time someone encouraged them to talk about death.”
“So you taught them not to talk.”
“I taught them to function.”
Kevin looked toward the hallway.
Jordan was sitting on the floor building a wooden train.
Annie was folding laundry several feet away.
Jordan glanced up every few seconds to make sure she was still there.
Margaret noticed.
Her expression changed.
“You’re still employing that woman?”
“Her name is Annie.”
“She was in Claire’s bed.”
“With two terrified children during a thunderstorm.”
“Inappropriate is inappropriate.”
Kevin studied his mother.
“Claire wrote Annie’s name down before she died.”
Margaret’s face changed.
Barely.
But enough.
“You knew.”
“I knew Claire liked one of the temporary maids.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Claire was sentimental near the end.”
Kevin stepped closer.
“She also wrote your name.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Where?”
Kevin opened Claire’s notebook.
One page was headed:
PEOPLE KEVIN WILL LET MAKE DECISIONS FOR HIM WHEN HE IS AFRAID.
Only one name appeared.
Margaret Vale.
Beneath it:
My greatest fear is not that Margaret doesn’t love the boys.
She loves them fiercely.
My fear is that she believes pain is weakness and obedience is recovery.
Margaret read the sentence.
Her mouth tightened.
“So Claire judged me from a hospital bed.”
“No.”
Kevin closed the notebook.
“She predicted you.”
For the first time, Margaret looked hurt rather than angry.
That should have made Kevin feel better.
It didn’t.
Then Justin walked into the kitchen carrying the burgundy scarf.
Margaret saw it.
“Where did you get that?”
Justin hugged it against his chest.
“Mom’s.”
Margaret held out her hand.
“Give it to me.”
Justin stepped backward.
Kevin saw the fear immediately.
Not today’s fear.
May you like
Recognition.
Margaret had taken things from them before.
Related Stories
