A local organization had begun renovating the abandoned building, and Linda had contributed money toward the project.
Jake planned to surprise me there on my 58th birthday.
My former choir members were already invited.
“Then why invent this ridiculous relationship?” I asked.
Jake lowered his head.
“Because every time I tried to get you involved in something, you refused. I thought this would make you pay attention and eventually lead you back into the world. But it went terribly wrong.”
I stood up, furious.
“You thought terrifying your mother would help her?”
He began crying.
“No, Mom. I was wrong. I was just afraid of losing you too. Not to an illness, but to the loneliness that’s slowly taking away your happiness.”
His words broke my heart.
Linda apologized as well.
“I wanted to repay David’s kindness. But we should never have deceived you.”
I wasn’t ready to forgive them immediately.
