Michael arrived the following Saturday.
I knew it was him because I heard his car outside.
The engine stopped.
A door closed.
Then someone knocked.
Danny was getting ready to take the boys to the park.
Kayla was folding laundry.
I opened the apartment door.
Michael stood there holding a paper bag.
"Hi, Mom."
I smiled.
"Hello, sweetheart."
He kissed my cheek.
Then he looked inside.
"Is everyone home?"
I told him Danny was getting ready to leave.
He stepped into the apartment.
His eyes moved around the room.
The folding table was still there.
The old sofa was still there.
The washing machines were making their usual noise beneath us.
Michael placed the paper bag on the counter.
"I brought some things."
I looked inside.
There were groceries.
Coffee.
Fruit.
A few items for the boys.
I thanked him.
He shrugged.
"I wasn't sure what you needed."
I smiled.
"That's thoughtful."
Danny came out of the bedroom.
He was holding one of the boys' jackets.
He looked surprised to see Michael.
"Hey."
Michael stood.
"Hey, Danny."
They shook hands.
There was a small awkward pause.
Then Michael asked whether Danny was taking the boys out.
Danny nodded.
"Just to the park."
Michael said he could stay and talk to me.
Danny looked at me.
I nodded.
"Go ahead, sweetheart. I'll be fine."
Danny kissed my cheek.
Then he took the boys outside.
Kayla followed them a few minutes later.
She wanted to buy some bread.
Michael and I were alone.
He looked toward the living room.
"Can we sit?"
I nodded.
We sat at the folding table.
He looked at the two cups on the counter.
Then he asked whether I was comfortable.
I told him I was.
He seemed unsure what to say.
Finally, he began.
"Mom, I've been thinking about that phone call."
I knew which one he meant.
He looked down.
"I handled it badly."
I didn't interrupt.
He explained that he had been busy.
He said Jenna's mother was planning a visit.
He said the guest room was being used as an office.
He said there were several things happening at the time.
Then he stopped.
"I know those are excuses."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I should have found a way."
I nodded.
"Yes, you should have."
He looked surprised by my answer.
Perhaps he expected me to tell him it was all right.
Perhaps he expected me to say I understood.
But I didn't want to pretend.
He had hurt me.
I loved him.
Both things were true.
Michael rubbed his hands together.
"I didn't think you were actually going to lose everything."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"I thought Dad would have arranged something."
I said nothing.
He looked toward the bedroom.
Then he asked whether I had been comfortable sleeping at Danny's.
I smiled.
"Very comfortable."
He nodded.
"Even with the noise?"
I laughed.
"Even with the noise."
He looked at the living room couch.
"That's where Danny sleeps?"
"Yes."
Michael stood and examined it.
He pressed one hand against the cushion.
The spring made a small metallic sound.
He looked uncomfortable.
"That's terrible."
I nodded.
"It is."
He sat down again.
Then he asked how long Danny had been sleeping there.
I told him three months.
Michael looked at the table.
He didn't say anything for a while.
Finally, he asked whether I planned to stay.
I told him I hadn't made a final decision.
He said he could arrange a room in his house.
I looked at him.
"Now?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
I asked whether Jenna's office had been moved.
He looked embarrassed.
"We could make arrangements."
I didn't answer immediately.
Then I asked him a question.
"Michael, if I had never told you about the money, would you have offered me that room?"
He looked down.
His fingers moved against the edge of the table.
"I don't know."
It was an honest answer.
I appreciated that.
I didn't need him to pretend.
He told me he wanted to do better.
He said he had been thinking about his father's letter.
He said Walt had worked his entire life to build a company, but he had never allowed work to become more important than family.
Michael admitted that he had become too focused on his career.
I listened.
Then I told him something I had wanted to say for a long time.
"Your father was proud of you."
Michael looked up.
"He was?"
"Very proud."
I told him Walt used to mention his promotions.
He remembered Michael's achievements.
He was happy when Michael bought his house.
He had even kept a newspaper clipping about one of his professional awards.
Michael's eyes became wet.
I hadn't expected that reaction.
He looked toward the floor.
"I wish I had spent more time with him."
I reached across the table.
"He knew you loved him."
Michael nodded.
Then he asked whether I had kept the newspaper clipping.
I smiled.
"Of course."
He laughed softly.
We talked for another hour.
He asked about my plans.
I told him I wanted to remain at Danny's for a little longer.
He didn't argue.
Before leaving, he stood beside the front door.
"Mom, I really am sorry."
I hugged him.
"I know."
He held me for a few seconds longer than usual.
Then he left.
When Danny returned, he asked whether Michael had been all right.
I told him we had talked.
Danny nodded.
He didn't ask for details.
That evening, I found a small envelope on the kitchen counter.
It contained a note from Michael.
He had written that he wanted to help replace the old couch.
He had also offered to pay for a few improvements to the apartment.
I showed it to Danny.
He read it.
Then he placed it back on the counter.
"That's nice of him."
I asked whether he would accept the offer.
He shrugged.
"If Mom wants the couch replaced, we'll replace it."
I smiled.
But I knew Danny wasn't going to let his brother buy forgiveness with a new sofa.
And I didn't want him to.
The following week, Stephanie called.
She asked whether she could visit.
I told her yes.
She said she wanted to bring something.
I asked what.
She said she would explain when she arrived.
I wondered whether it would be the vintage watch again.
But I didn't ask.
I was beginning to understand that rebuilding a relationship required more than one apology.
It required time.
And I was willing to give my children time.
I simply wasn't willing to forget what had happened.
Click here to continue reading: PART 11: Stephanie Arrived With an Apology and a Question About Her Father’s Watch, but I Needed to Know Which One Mattered More
My Husband Left Me With One Secret, and I Never Imagined My Three Children Would Give Me Three Completely Different Answers
Part 10 of 20
