Chapter 14 - THE LAST FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
Diane mailed Megan another check.
Five hundred dollars.
No explanation.
Megan almost tore it up.
Then she called.
“What is this?”
Diane’s voice was cautious.
“The money you returned.”
“Why are you sending it again?”
“Because I don’t know how else to address what I did.”
“Try words.”
Diane went quiet.
Megan almost regretted the sharpness.
Then her mother said:
“I was ashamed of you because admitting you were right meant admitting I had been cruel when you needed me.”
Megan sat down.
It was not a perfect apology.
It was at least finally about Diane.
Not Thomas.
Not Sophie.
Not the wedding.
“And I was proud of Sophie for reasons that put pressure on her to keep looking successful even when she wasn’t safe in what she’d chosen.”
Megan said nothing.
Diane continued.
“I’m sorry.”
Megan looked at the check.
“I’m not ready to make this easy.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“I’m trying.”
Megan believed that Diane was trying.
She did not yet know whether trying would survive discomfort.
That was the test.
“Donate the five hundred.”
“To what?”
Megan almost said her arts foundation.
That would have been too symbolic.
“Whatever you want. Just stop using money to manage conversations.”
Diane gave a small, embarrassed laugh.
“Fair.”
Before hanging up, she asked about Sophie.
“Call her yourself.”
“She doesn’t answer.”
“Then keep being someone worth answering.”
Diane inhaled sharply.
Megan knew she had crossed close to cruelty again.
But Diane only said, “Okay.”
Two days later Sophie told Megan that Diane had left one voicemail.
No guilt.
No instruction to save the marriage.
No comments about the Hail family.
Just:
I’m here when you want me.
Sophie had not called back.
May you like
She had saved it.
Megan understood the distinction.
