This is perfect. I’m just not used to having people take care of me instead of the other way around. He reached over and squeezed my hand. You spent 40some years taking care of everyone else. It’s your turn now. That same evening, as I was settling in with a book in what the staff called the library, an actual library with floor toseeiling bookshelves and a rolling ladder, Maria knocked on the door. Mrs. Morrison, your daughter is here. She says she needs to speak with you urgently. My stomach clenched. I’d been expecting this, but that didn’t make it any easier.
Show her in, please. Kalia appeared in the doorway a moment later, her eyes wide as she took in the elegant room. She’d clearly dressed carefully for this visit. Her best dress, her most expensive jewelry, her hair styled in the way she thought made her look most appealing. “Mom,” she stood there uncertainly, like she wasn’t sure whether she was allowed to enter fully. “Come in, sweetheart. Sit down.” She perched on the edge of a leather chair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. For several moments, neither of us spoke. Finally, she cleared her throat. This place is incredible. It is.
I had no idea Tommy Peterson had done so well for himself. I mean, I knew he was successful, but this level of wealth. She gestured around the room. He’s done very well. Another silence. I could see her struggling with how to approach whatever she’d come to say. Finally, the words burst out of her. Mom, I made a terrible mistake the other night. Louis and I both did. We were shocked, unprepared, and we reacted badly. But you have to understand, we never meant to hurt you. I studied her face, looking for genuine remorse, and seeing mostly panic.
What did you mean to do then? We just thought, I mean, you’re so independent, so capable. We figured you’d work something out on your own. We didn’t realize how serious the situation was. I told you I’d lost everything in the fire, Kalia. How much more serious did it need to be? Her cheeks flushed. You’re right. You’re absolutely right. But mom, we can fix this. Louis and I have been talking, and we want to make things right between us. We want you to come home. home to our house. We’ve prepared the guest room for you. It’s all ready.
New sheets, fresh flowers, everything you need. You could move in this weekend if you want. I felt a sad smile tugging at my lips, and Tommy’s house, Tommy’s money, his trust fund. What happens to all of that? Kayia’s mask slipped for just a moment, revealing something desperate and calculating underneath. Well, I mean, you don’t really need all this, do you? This house is so big, so impersonal. Wouldn’t you rather be with family? There it was. The real reason for her visit.
She wanted me to give up the life Tommy had provided and come live in their guest room where they could be close to me and to the $25 million trust fund. I see. I stood up slowly. And what does Lewis think about having his homeless mother-in-law move in permanently? He feels terrible about what he said. He wants to apologize personally. How generous of him. Kalia stood too, moving closer to me. Mom, please. I know we hurt you, but we’re family. We’re your real family.
This Tommy Peterson, I mean, yes, you helped him when he was a child, but that was a long time ago. He’s just feeling guilty because he never stayed in touch. Once that guilt wears off, where will you be? The words hit their target, awakening fears I’d been trying to suppress. What if she was right? What if Tommy’s generosity was just temporary guilt? And once it faded, I’d be alone again. But then I remembered his face when he stepped off that helicopter. The fierce protectiveness in his voice when he confronted Lewis, the way he still called me his mother.
You’re worried he’ll abandon me the way you did? Kayia flinched. That’s not fair. We didn’t abandon you. You slammed the door in my face, Kalia. Your husband called me homeless and said I’d ruin his Persian rug. How is that not abandonment? We were protecting our home, our lifestyle, from your own mother. The words hung in the air between us. Kalia’s composure finally cracked completely. Fine. Yes, we were protecting ourselves from you, from your problems, your neediness, your constant reminders of everything we’ve worked so hard to rise above. The ugly truth poured out of her like poison.
Do you think it’s easy being your daughter? Do you think I enjoyed growing up poor? Watching you work yourself to death, being embarrassed by our secondhand everything while my friends had nice things. I absorbed each word like a physical blow. I did my best, Kalia. I gave you everything I could. I know you did. Tears were streaming down her face now. And I’m grateful. I really am. But I spent my whole childhood promising myself I’d never live like that again. I’d never be poor, never be looked down on, never have to worry about money.
Lewis gave me that security, and I threatened it. Yes. No, I don’t know. She sank back into the chair, her perfect facade completely demolished. I just know that when I saw you standing there with your sootcovered clothes and your desperate eyes, you looked like everything I’d run away from. And I panicked. The honesty was brutal, but at least it was honest. For the first time since she’d arrived, I felt like I was talking to my real daughter instead of a carefully crafted performance.