Chapter 13 - THE MAN WHO FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH
Julian visited Margaret on a rainy Sunday.
She was sitting in her living room overlooking Lake Washington.
The same room where she'd spent years criticizing Eleanor.
“Julian,” she said, “I've been thinking.”
He sat opposite her.
“About what?”
“Perhaps you should call Eleanor.”
He stared.
Margaret continued.
“She was always a sensible woman. Maybe enough time has passed.”
Julian shook his head.
“Mother.”
“She might reconsider.”
“No.”
Margaret frowned.
Julian leaned forward.
“Eleanor is happy.”
Margaret scoffed.
“How do you know?”
“Because I've seen her.”
He had attended a public presentation about the theater restoration.
Eleanor stood onstage explaining the project.
She was confident.
Animated.
Laughing.
Julian barely recognized her.
Not because she'd changed.
Because he'd forgotten who she was before he made her life smaller.
“She doesn't need me,” he said.
Margaret looked away.
Julian continued.
“And I don't have the right to ask her back.”
Margaret sighed.
“I still believe she could have tried harder.”
Julian stared at his mother.
“Harder?”
His voice rose.
“She protected my privacy for seven years.”
Margaret froze.
He swallowed.
“The fertility problem was mine.”
Silence.
Margaret's face changed.
“What?”
Julian looked directly at her.
“The doctors told us years ago that my sperm count was severely reduced.”
Margaret stared.
“Eleanor's testing didn't identify the problem.”
His voice broke.
“And I begged her not to tell you.”
Margaret covered her mouth.
Julian continued.
“She kept my secret.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“Then I let you blame her for it.”
For the first time, Margaret had nothing to say.
Julian stood.
“I don't expect you to understand everything today.”
He moved toward the door.
“But I need you to stop blaming Eleanor.”
Margaret began crying.
He paused.
“And if you ever speak about her again, speak with respect.”
Then he left.
Margaret sat alone in the quiet house.
The lake shimmered beyond the windows.
For seventy-four years, she'd believed reputation mattered more than truth.
May you like
Now the truth had finally reached her.
And there was nobody left to protect her from it.
