Chapter 17 - MARJORIE FINALLY KNOCKEDMarjorie came to Natalie’s townhouse.
No assistant.
No driver waiting visibly.
She knocked.
Natalie opened but did not invite immediately.
“What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“About Victor?”
“No.”
That surprised her.
Natalie let her in.
Marjorie sat.
For first time, she looked older than sixty-two.
“I was wrong at your birthday.”
Natalie waited.
“I should not have spoken to you that way.”
“Or made me wash dishes.”
“Yes.”
“Or let Brandon believe defending me meant betraying you.”
Marjorie’s jaw tightened.
Harder.
“Yes.”
Natalie remained silent.
Marjorie continued:
“I lost my husband when Brandon was nineteen.”
“I had to run everything.”
“He depended on me.”
“And then he married you.”
There.
“You hated me.”
“No.”
“You resented me.”
Marjorie looked down.
“Yes.”
Honest.
“I thought you would pull him into Foster world.”
“You thought Victor would own him?”
“Yes.”
Natalie almost laughed.
“The irony.”
Marjorie looked up.
“You don’t understand men like your brother.”
Natalie’s expression changed.
“I understand him better than you understand your son.”
Marjorie bristled.
Natalie continued:
“Victor has never asked me to choose him over Brandon.”
“Not once.”
“He asks what I want.”
“Can you say same?”
Silence.
Then Marjorie whispered:
“No.”
First crack.
But apology wasn’t complete.
Marjorie still said:
“I was under pressure.”
Natalie stopped her.
“If you’re going to explain it away, don’t apologize yet.”
Marjorie stared.
Nobody talked to her like that.
Natalie did not raise voice.
She had learned from Victor.
Calm could be stronger.
Marjorie stood.
At door she said:
“I am sorry about birthday.”
Natalie nodded.
“I believe you’re sorry it happened.”
“I’m not sure yet you’re sorry for why.”
Marjorie left.
Not forgiven.
May you like
Not humiliated.
Accountability beginning.
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