Then forced myself to say what I needed them to hear.
“Listen to me.”
They pulled back.
“Marlene thinks she took something away from our family.”
I looked at each of them.
“She didn’t.”
“But the pool—”
“Things can be repaired.”
My son looked doubtful.
“And when people break rules…”
I kissed his forehead.
“…they eventually learn why those rules existed.”
I sent the children upstairs to get dressed.
Then I sat at my kitchen table.
Phone in front of me.
For two years, I had worked harder to avoid conflict than Marlene had worked to deserve peace.
No more.
THE CALL I SHOULD HAVE MADE MONTHS EARLIER
I opened my contacts.
Months earlier, when Marlene had started arguing about my roses and property lines, a friend had given me the number of a real-estate attorney.
I saved it.
Never called.
Because I kept hoping I wouldn’t need him.
