Chapter 8 - Graham asks for another chance
Graham requested a meeting through Dana.
Public office.
Attorneys nearby but not sitting between us.
I agreed.
He looked terrible.
“Are you sleeping?”
“No.”
“Business?”
“Everything.”
I did not comfort him.
Then he said:
“I never wanted you hurt.”
“I believe you.”
That seemed to relieve him.
Too quickly.
“I said I believe you didn’t want it. Not that you didn’t help it happen.”
He looked down.
Then:
“I should have confronted Mom years ago.”
“Years?”
“Months.”
“Which?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Nora.”
“No. Words matter now.”
“Months.”
Then bathroom.
He admitted:
Judith had told him she grabbed my arm when I slipped.
He told me there was no contact.
Why?
“I thought she was trying to catch you.”
“Then why lie?”
“Because you already thought she did it intentionally.”
“So you changed facts to manage my reaction.”
“Yes.”
Garage.
Judith admitted grabbing my sweater.
He told me she was not close enough to touch me.
Why?
“Same reason.”
Then pantry.
He believed accidental.
Fine.
Then current stairs.
“Did you see her push me?”
“No.”
“Why ask me to say I slipped?”
His eyes filled.
“I knew what everyone would assume.”
“What did you assume?”
Silence.
“Graham.”
“I thought she probably did it.”
There.
“And you still asked me to lie.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My mom.”
“No.”
“My business.”
There.
He began crying.
Not dramatically.
Quiet.
“She said if I ever turned on her after everything she did, she would call the note, stop helping, sue the company, whatever she could.”
“Could she?”
“Some of it.”
“So you traded my version of reality for working capital?”
He flinched.
“That’s not fair.”
“No?”
“I didn’t think she would keep escalating.”
“Keep.”
Again.
He heard it too.
Then:
“Did you know she hurt me before?”
“I knew she put hands on you.”
“Did you know she caused the fractures?”
“No.”
That distinction remained.
Then:
“Did you suspect?”
He whispered:
“Yes.”
Not enough for Chapter 10 yet? We are close. Need bigger documentary confirmation there.
I stood.
“I’m filing for divorce.”
He closed his eyes.
“Nora.”
“I’m not saying you pushed me.”
“I know.”
May you like
“I’m saying when I fell, you kept choosing which truth cost you less.”
He did not argue.
