Still—
old habits took over.
“I’m sorry.”
Even as the words left my mouth, I hated them.
“I’ll tell them to keep it down.”
Marlene straightened.
“See that you do.”
Then she walked toward the gate.
Before leaving, she turned.
Her face was hard.
“Because this is the last time I’m asking nicely.”
Then she walked out as if she owned my yard too.
My oldest looked at me.
“Mom.”
Her voice was small.
“We weren’t yelling.”
I knelt beside her.
“I know.”
“We promise.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
And suddenly that was what bothered me most.
I knew.
And I had still apologized.
I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD STOP SHRINKING
That night, after putting the kids to bed, I sat alone at the kitchen table.
The house was quiet.
I thought about Steve.
He had never been confrontational.
But he also never let people walk over him.
