Chapter 26 - MARJORIE AND NASH
Nash was twenty when he chose to meet Marjorie.
One time.
Mediated.
No property talk unless he asked.
I did not attend.
Graham did not either.
Afterward Nash came to my house.
“How was it?”
“Weird.”
“Useful?”
“Maybe.”
“What did you ask?”
“Why my food.”
Of course.
“What did she say?”
Nash sat at my kitchen table.
“She said she wanted you to feel like every normal thing could disappear if you refused.”
Housing.
Dinner.
Family.
Stability.
Exactly.
“And?”
“I asked if she thought that was love.”
My chest tightened.
“What did she say?”
“No.”
Then:
“She said she thought it was leadership.”
There.
Marjorie had finally named the confusion correctly.
“What else?”
“I asked why Dad didn’t stop her.”
“She answered for him?”
“Sort of. She said he’d spent his whole life learning that when she gets angry, everyone waits.”
“And what did you say?”
“That he was thirty-seven.”
I smiled.
“My son.”
“He still chose.”
“Yes.”
Nash looked at me.
“I don’t hate her.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t want another meeting.”
“Okay.”
“Can I send birthday cards?”
“Yes.”
No label needed.
Relationship at distance.
Behavior-based.
Then Nash asked:
“Did you really know Cedar Vale was yours when you said she’d be sleeping outside?”
“I knew Northline owned it.”
“So you were threatening eviction.”
“I was furious. I knew she could not legally throw us out. I also knew her occupancy depended on rules.”
“Did you actually plan to throw her out that night?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because that would’ve been illegal too.”
He laughed.
May you like
“Everybody needed lawyers.”
Correct.
