Chapter 6 - HELEN’S VERSION
Mom called me eleven times.
I answered the twelfth.
“Rachel.”
“What?”
“How is Owen?”
I almost hung up.
That was the first time she had asked.
“He’s fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
“For what happened.”
“That’s vague.”
She started crying.
I did not rescue her.
“For Lisa hitting him.”
“And?”
“For Grant’s comment.”
“And?”
“For asking you to leave.”
“Good start.”
She inhaled.
“I didn’t know about the recorder.”
“I believe that.”
“I knew about the loan.”
There.
“How much?”
“I knew Grant needed help.”
“Did you know my branch was collateral?”
“I thought you agreed.”
“No.”
“Lisa said—”
“Of course.”
“She said you told her you wouldn’t sign formally because you didn’t want to be involved.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“At the time—”
“No. At the time it was convenient.”
Mom went quiet.
“Did you ever see my signature?”
“Yes.”
“Did it look copied?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve seen me sign my name for thirty-three years.”
“Rachel.”
“Did you question it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought family had already discussed it.”
There it was again.
May you like
Family.
A word used to substitute for the missing person’s consent.
