Chapter 12
Lucille finally lost her certainty when Theo refused her.
Not me.
Him.
She asked to see him.
I told Theo.
He said:
“Only if Clara stays.”
Good.
So Clara stayed.
I watched through the open doorway because Theo asked me to stay outside but close.
Lucille entered wearing pearls.
Always armor.
Theo sat on the exam table.
His leg was improving.
Crutches nearby.
She smiled.
“Theodore.”
He stiffened.
“Nobody calls me that.”
She corrected herself.
“Theo.”
Silence.
“I took care of you.”
Theo looked at her.
“Sometimes.”
That landed.
Lucille swallowed.
“I protected you from dangerous people.”
“Mom?”
She hesitated.
Wrong.
Theo saw it.
“Is Mom dangerous?”
Lucille looked toward me.
I did nothing.
Her answer belonged to her.
“She can be.”
Theo thought.
“Did she hit me?”
“No.”
“Make me work?”
“No.”
“Take my food?”
Lucille’s face tightened.
“No.”
“Then why dangerous?”
Seven-year-old logic.
Brutal.
Clean.
Lucille said:
“Power changes people.”
Theo looked at his crutches.
“You changed.”
Silence.
He continued.
“You used to give me food.”
There it was.
Not political argument.
Memory.
At some point Lucille had treated him better.
Then resources tightened.
Patience disappeared.
Asset became burden.
Theo knew.
“You said sorry?” he asked.
Lucille’s eyes filled.
Not yet.
He waited.
She finally whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
She struggled.
“For making you work.”
“And lying mom dead?”
“I’m sorry.”
“And leg?”
She looked confused.
“You wouldn’t get doctor.”
That one broke her.
“Yes.”
No hug followed.
Theo reached for his crutches.
“Done.”
Clara helped him down.
May you like
Trust was not restored.
But truth had been spoken in the correct direction.
