Chapter 14 - THE LAST TIME THEY ASKED ME TO FIX IT
Rachel asked for one final meeting before entering her plea.
Her attorney remained beside her.
She wore no makeup and no red dress.
For the first time since childhood, she looked like someone who had run out of ways to appear fine.
“If I plead,” she said, “I lose my license.”
“For a while.”
“I lose the house.”
“The divorce may have done that anyway.”
“Emily loses her home.”
“Emily has two parents and a grandmother who will never let her be homeless.”
Rachel stared at me.
“So you’ll help her.”
“Yes.”
“But not me.”
There it was.
The distinction she had resisted her entire life.
“I will help you find treatment. I will help you understand paperwork. If you’re hungry, I will feed you.”
Her face twisted.
“But you won’t save the house.”
“No.”
“You have enough.”
“That is not the point.”
“It was always the point.”
“No, Rachel. Money was how we avoided the point.”
She looked down.
Marcus had already accepted his plea.
He sent a statement through his attorney acknowledging that no lie Rachel told required him to hit me.
Rachel read it before our meeting.
“He gets to sound noble now.”
“He’s going to jail.”
“He always gets forgiven because he explodes and apologizes. I plan things, so everyone thinks I’m worse.”
I considered that.
“You did plan this.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes.”
It was the first time she said it without explanation.
She signed the agreement.
Before leaving, she asked whether I would come to Emily’s graduation if she invited both of us.
“That decision belongs to Emily.”
“What would you do?”
“I would sit where she asks me to sit.”
May you like
Rachel nodded.
For once, neither of us tried to control the next person’s choice.
