Chapter 6 — Grandma Helen Finally Comes Inside
Helen arrived two days later.
Michael had not seen her in almost a year.
She stood outside the house for several seconds before knocking.
Emma saw her through the window.
“Grandma!”
She ran toward the door.
Michael opened it.
Helen hugged Emma first.
Then looked toward Michael.
“Thank you for letting me come.”
Michael nodded.
Claire sat in the living room.
Helen saw her.
“You told him.”
Claire nodded.
“Everything.”
Helen lowered her handbag.
Michael did not waste time.
“Did you tell Claire not to attend our wedding?”
Helen closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did you threaten to throw her out?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at her mother.
For years, Helen had softened the story.
She said emotions were high.
She said everyone said things they didn’t mean.
This time she did not minimize it.
“I was angry at Rebecca.”
Helen believed marriage meant losing her daughter.
So she tried to force Rebecca to choose.
When that failed, she tried forcing Claire.
“I thought if the family stood together, Rebecca would change her mind.”
Michael shook his head.
“You turned attending her wedding into betrayal.”
Helen nodded.
“I did.”
Then Emma asked:
“Did Daddy make Mommy leave you?”
The entire room went silent.
Helen looked toward Claire.
Then toward Michael.
Finally she crouched in front of Emma.
“No, sweetheart.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Emma frowned.
“Aunt Claire said he did.”
Helen answered carefully.
“Your daddy did not make your mommy stop loving us.”
“Then why didn’t Mommy come?”
Helen’s eyes filled.
“Because Grandma made being around us very difficult for a while.”
Emma looked confused.
Helen continued.
“I wanted your mommy to make choices that made me happy.”
“Instead of her?”
Helen smiled sadly.
“That’s a pretty good way to say it.”
Emma looked toward Michael.
Then Claire.
“So Daddy didn’t steal Mommy?”
Claire whispered:
“No.”