Chapter 21 - THE FIRST MEETING
Lily was twenty-eight when she decided to meet Greg once.
Nora opposed it emotionally.
Supported it legally.
Maya’s successor facilitated.
Neutral office.
Security nearby.
I knew nothing about it until years later.
As it should be.
Greg looked older.
Lily later described him to Nora:
“Smaller.”
Not physically.
In memory.
Her first question:
“Why the boots?”
Greg cried.
She waited.
He said:
“I needed people to believe your pain was permanent.”
“Why?”
“So the trust would keep paying for care.”
“Care you weren’t giving.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know what was inside hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever think it could get worse than you planned?”
“Yes.”
“Why keep doing it?”
He looked down.
“Because after the first fake claim, stopping meant explaining the first one.”
A pattern.
One wrong choice demanding another.
Lily asked:
“Did Mom know?”
“No.”
“Did you kill Mom?”
“No.”
Investigations agreed.
Lily nodded.
“Good.”
Greg looked startled.
“Good?”
“I needed to hear you say it while knowing police checked.”
Then:
“Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“More than money?”
Greg closed his eyes.
“I don’t know how to answer without lying.”
Lily stood.
“Then don’t.”
The meeting ended after eighteen minutes.
No hug.
No forgiveness.
No second meeting.
Years later Greg requested another.
May you like
Lily declined.
That was closure enough.
