EPILOGUE: THE ROOM I KEPT
You’re right. I was frustrated about our situation, and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.
I thanked her and wished them well in their new apartment.
I didn’t invite them to move back in.
Over the following weeks, David began calling more often. Sometimes he stopped by for coffee, and once Sarah came with him. There were awkward moments, but we managed a pleasant afternoon without bringing up the argument.
One Sunday, David offered to replace a loose board on my back deck. He brought his tools, spent most of the afternoon working, and refused when I tried to reimburse him for the materials.
“Mom, you’ve done enough for me,” he said. “Let me do something for you.”
I watched him tighten the last screw.
“Your father would’ve approved of that.”
David smiled.
“He would’ve told me I used the wrong screws.”
We both laughed.
By early summer, the geraniums on my porch were blooming again. One afternoon, I trimmed the plants, swept the front steps, and went upstairs to open my bedroom windows.
Robert’s leather chair was still beside the window. The oak dresser we’d bought together stood against the wall, and our wedding photograph remained on the nightstand.
I sat in his chair with a cup of tea.
I still wanted to help my son when he needed me. I still wanted him and Sarah to have a good life, and I hoped they’d eventually buy the house they’d been saving for.
But I no longer believed that being a good mother meant agreeing to everything.
A car pulled into the driveway.
Through the window, I saw David step onto the porch. He paused to straighten one of the geranium pots that had tipped toward the steps, then rang the doorbell.
I set down my tea and went downstairs.
When I opened the door, he smiled.
“Hi, Mom. Is this a good time?”
I stepped aside.
“Of course, honey. Come on in.”
He wiped his shoes on the mat and followed me into the kitchen.
Upstairs, the sunlight was still falling across Robert’s old chair, exactly where it belonged.
THE END
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance. All images are for illustration purposes only.
