Chapter 12 - THE MOTHER WHO LEARNED TO APOLOGIZE
Lenora Rook arrived at Hale Threadworks carrying a small wooden box.
Avery looked up from her worktable.
“Lenora.”
The older woman stood awkwardly near the door.
“May I come in?”
Avery hesitated.
Then nodded.
Lenora placed the box on the table.
Inside was an antique sewing thimble.
Silver.
Engraved with tiny flowers.
“My mother used this,” Lenora said.
Avery stared.
“Evelyn's grandmother?”
Lenora nodded.
“She taught me to sew when I was a girl.”
Avery looked at the thimble.
Lenora continued.
“I wasn't very good.”
Avery smiled faintly.
“Most people aren't at first.”
Lenora laughed softly.
Then her expression changed.
“I came to apologize.”
Avery went still.
Lenora looked down.
“I treated you cruelly.”
Silence.
“I judged you because of your family's financial problems.”
Avery said nothing.
“I told myself I was protecting Gabriel.”
Lenora's voice broke.
“But I was protecting my pride.”
Avery looked at her.
“Why now?”
Lenora swallowed.
“Because Evelyn won't speak to me unless I acknowledge what I did.”
Avery nodded.
“At least you're telling the truth.”
Lenora's eyes filled.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
Lenora blinked.
Avery continued.
“Because I can't give it just because you've asked.”
Lenora nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
Avery looked at the thimble.
Then pushed the box gently back toward her.
“Keep it.”
Lenora frowned.
“But—”
“It's your mother's.”
Avery smiled sadly.
“You should have something of hers that reminds you who you were before all this.”
Lenora began crying.
Their relationship didn't heal overnight.
But it began changing.
Not through expensive gifts.
May you like
Through honesty.
And the difficult work of earning trust.
