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"He wanted you all to be a family again. I have this on video on my phone if you don't believe me. He didn't want you to lose both parents at the same time." With that, Mary put her arm around my shoulders and I quietly sobbed. I didn't know if I reached them. I hoped to god that I did.
After a few minutes Sue spoke to me. "I honestly don't know what to say."
"Sue, and the rest of you?" I looked at them to get their attention. "One of the things I learned when I was getting sober again, was that the grieving had to come out. Sometimes we have a target that gives us permission to be angry at. I was my own target for quite a while. I think that your mother has been that target for you.
"Be angry that she was weak, be angry that she was not there for your father. But we all are human and weak. Right now you've lost both parents. One died and the other you hate.
"Your mother did some bad things, but she's not evil. She raised you guys right. All of you have screwed up, not as bad a she did, but you're still young." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Chuck squirm a little. There was a drug possession charge when he was in college. By luck, it was a small amount and the judge tossed it out.
"This is not an answer for you to have now or even this month. This is something I want you to think about. I will always be available on the phone and Mary volunteered too. She's close enough to visit over coffee. Please think about this. I know that's it hard for you all."
It got quiet and what Mary and I said hung over them. It was time to leave. Almost on queue, each of us started getting up from our chairs and put on our coats. We gathered before the entrance to the restaurant to say our goodbyes. Hugs and thank yous went all the way around and we left. By morning, Mary dropped me off at Midway for my cheap flight home.
Over the next couple of months there were calls and emails from the four of them, and Catherine too. It was 10 months later when I got a family Christmas card. It was taken at Chuck's house on the stairs in his foyer. Carefully arranged were two young children, their parents and their aunts and Uncles, and the Grandmother and mother. All smiling.
- COMMENTS
Anonymous7 months agoThis was a poor story. Self serving MC dialogue. Asking the kids to forgive his ex-wife? He burns her to the ground then asks everyone to give her ansolution
BS!
I don't buy the "emotionally can't cope" cop out. Tragic situations call for each of us to set our fears and personal issues aside for a greater good. It's hard, painful, but what one is morally bound to do. Courage is not about heroes. It's about everyday people who, while scared to death, saddle up and go anyway. Anything less is cowardice. Period.
Running away in combat can get you shot out of hand. Emotional fear and pain demand you set that aside so that another can be given an end where they are loved and not alone. That SHE did that dames her for eternity.
Praetus7 months agoThis story had to take some serious shifts to make Catherine sympathetic. I think there is an avenue to take to having her have contact with the family but you didn't pursue that..we got Jack's sob story about his weakness.
But in order for both to happen, unpleasant characteristics were introduced for the I'll people to pseudo justify the cheating. Framing it as a retreat or solace from their DYING PARTNERS being MEAN TO THEM.
And the two situations weren't that similar. His wife was tough but had a rapid onset illness. The Main character of chapter 1? Slow death but no mental capacity reduction. Catherine in Ch 1 bears zero resemblance to the remorse and guilt filled Jack - she didn't even try.
So, no, this chapter feels like an attempt to "both sides" things. And feels dissatisfying as a result as it isn't even from the wife's perspective. We don't see her actual inner thoughts, her narrative or her supposed regrets... if she has any. And I doubt she really does beyond the social shame, given her characterisation in chapter 1.
KtYe3X9 months agoNah, sorry, not buying it.
He supported her when she was ill, nursed her back to health and she just went out and got her bells rung when it would've been her time to stand up for him as well as to be available for the kids. Even dying he was the one responsible for the finances, he organized everything including the wake. She didn't give a damn.
Why should he want the kids to have a relationship with such a cold-hearted wanne-be-wife? There is nothing to be gained for them but heartache and further betrayel.
Under the given circumstances the wish for reconciliation between the kids and the "mother" is just not conclusive.
Good first chapter, wasted 2nd one imho.
