Page 35 of Absolution

He nods saying nothing.

But before either of us can speak again, I hear footsteps behind him.

Marsha.

I shouldn't be surprised. The kids told me she was here. Said Grandma came to help, that she was cooking and making them say grace and tucking them in. I told them that was nice. That I was glad.

And I was.

Still, I didn’t expect Kyle to call her. He’s never been a momma’s boy. Half his life has been spent dodging her opinions. So, when I heard she was here, I was shocked.

But then again, maybe he needed backup. Maybe, now he’ll understand what I mean when I say, I need help.

“Well, hello,” she says, stepping fully into view, arms crossed and perfectly composed. “Look who finally came back.”

Her tone is light, almost amused. But her eyes are sharp, scanning me head to toe like she’s checking for signs of moral decay.

This is how it’s always been with Marsha.

So long as I played the part, kept the house tidy, looked presentable, raised the kids with a smile and kept my tone soft, she could be warm, even sweet. But the second I stepped out of line, put myself first.

She turned.

Cold. Condescending. Calculated.

Like she was always waiting to sayI told you so.

“We were just starting dinner,” she says now, looking past me toward the kitchen. “I made that broccoli casserole the kids like. Levi’s barely eating again, poor thing.”

Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

I don’t answer, not having the energy to match her performance.

I press kisses to each of the kids’ foreheads, running my fingers through their hair, whispering, “I’m home."

Then I stand.

Marsha doesn’t move. Just watches.

I walk past her, through the hallway I used to vacuum every Thursday, past the photo frames I used to dust, toward the kitchen that used to be mine.

I don’t know what happens next.

I don’t know if Kyle and I will fix this. I don’t know how long she’s staying. I don’t know what it’ll take to rebuild the trust I left behind.

But I know this:

I came back.

I’m still grieving. I’m still tired. But I’m here.

And maybe that’s the first step.

I don’t know what will happen now that I’m home. I really don’t.

I expected things to change, but I couldn’t have imagined just how much.

Chapter Twelve

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