Chapter 14
Miriam apologized to Nathan before Eli.
That was my condition.
Not because Nathan was hurt physically.
Because she had used him.
Rachel stayed in the room.
So did Conrad.
Miriam looked uncomfortable.
Good.
“Nathan, I told you things that were unfair.”
He looked at her.
“About Eli?”
“Yes.”
“About me?”
She hesitated.
Then:
“Yes.”
That surprised Conrad.
Miriam continued.
“I told you being stronger meant taking things before someone else could.”
Nathan nodded.
“You said Dad’s side lost.”
Miriam closed her eyes.
There.
Children remember exact cruelty.
Adults remember philosophy.
“I was wrong.”
Nathan looked at Conrad.
Conrad did not rescue her.
Progress.
Then Nathan asked:
“Does that mean Eli gets everything?”
Miriam almost answered too quickly.
I saw her stop herself.
“No.”
She said it more carefully.
“It means Eli’s things are his. Yours are yours. And grown-up decisions belong to grown-ups.”
Simple.
Late.
Necessary.
Two days later, Eli agreed to see her.
He stayed beside me.
Miriam crouched.
“I’m sorry I gave your football away.”
Eli looked at her.
“And said Nathan stronger.”
Her face changed.
“Yes.”
“Am I weak?”
Silence.
She looked at me.
I did not help.
Finally she said:
“No.”
Eli frowned.
“But I cried.”
Miriam swallowed.
Then, slowly:
“Crying doesn’t make you weak.”
That sentence cost her.
I could hear it.
May you like
Good.
Some apologies should be expensive.
