Chapter 21 - MONIQUE MOVES OUT TOOMonique did not move into the townhome.
She rented a two-bedroom apartment near Vivian’s school.
The first months were tight.
She increased her design work.
Ethan adjusted some shared expenses after mediation.
Charles still helped with one semester of tuition before Vivian eventually transferred to public school.
Monique expected disaster.
Vivian adapted in two weeks.
She liked riding the bus.
She joined art club.
Children are inconvenient witnesses against adult status anxiety.
Monique told me:
“I spent two years terrified she’d suffer if we lost the Mercer lifestyle.”
“What does she miss?”
“The pool.”
“Anything else?”
“Her bedroom.”
“Reasonable.”
“She likes the apartment courtyard more.”
We laughed.
Then Monique became serious.
“I’m sorry I stayed quiet.”
“I know.”
“No. I mean before the clothes. About the comments.”
I waited.
“Mom talked about Nina constantly. What she wore. Your car. Your house. Whether you were spending Andrew’s money.”
“I knew some.”
“You didn’t know Vivian heard.”
“No.”
“I did.”
There.
Another piece carried by the right person.
“I should have stopped it sooner.”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
May you like
No demand that I comfort her.
Accountability got easier when people stopped treating forgiveness as a receipt.
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