Chapter 22 - MOM TELLS US THE TRUTHFamily therapy happened six months later.
Mom finally said:
“I lied about your father.”
I stared.
Dad was not in the room.
Just Mom, me, Ethan, therapist.
Mom continued:
“He did stop trying sometimes. But he did not stop completely the way I told you.”
Ethan asked:
“Why?”
Mom cried.
I hated when adults cried during explanations.
It always made children feel responsible for making them feel better.
The therapist did not rescue her.
Good.
Mom said:
“Because I was angry with him. Because Gary hated when he contacted us. Because every time your dad came back, I remembered the drinking and the court and how unstable everything felt.”
“Did you throw away cards?”
“No.”
“Did you let Gary hide them?”
Mom closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Ethan stared at the carpet.
Then asked:
“Did Dad love us?”
Mom’s face broke.
May you like
“Yes.”
That was the first time she said it without qualification.
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