Chapter 22 - Luke’s apology
Luke’s first apology was unusable.
I’m sorry things got out of control.
No.
Second:
I’m sorry Mom hurt you.
His mother had an arm.
He had choices.
No.
Then, nearly two years after the assault, a letter came through Adrian.
I told myself I was keeping you in the kitchen until we finished a conversation.
I continued.
You had already said the conversation was over.
Good.
I hid your keys because I believed marriage gave me the right to prevent you leaving when I thought you were being irrational.
Good.
It did not.
Then:
When Mom hit you and you fell, I knew immediately that the situation had become more serious than I could control.
Yes.
I did not call for help because I was afraid you would leave me, report Mom, and expose the bank documents.
There.
Three motives.
Not love.
Fear of consequences.
I said we would claim you fell because I wanted to replace what happened with a version that protected me.
Specific.
Then:
I also signed your name on the guaranty paperwork. I told myself I would get your real signature later before the loan funded, which was another way of pretending your future yes could excuse my present no.
That sentence stopped me.
Finally:
You did not cause my company’s problems by refusing to sign.
I put the letter down.
No forgiveness requested.
Good.
I did not answer.
May you like
But I kept that one.
For a while.
