Margaret folded her hands together. “His father didn’t want him. I didn’t have money or support. The court didn’t listen.”
“You failed,” Mark shot back.
“I was young and alone. But I never stopped loving you. I’ve been sending money every month since the twins were born. I wanted to help.”
“You failed.”
“I should’ve sent it back,” Mark said roughly. “That was my mistake.”
“Mistake?” she repeated softly.
Mark pointed toward the door. “You need to leave.”
Suddenly, the anonymous envelopes with money over the past year made sense!
“You knew she’d been sending money,” I said slowly. “Mark?”
“Yes.”
“I only wanted to talk,” his mother interjected.
“Leave!” he shouted.
“Mistake?”
The boys stirred in their crib.
Margaret picked up her duffel bag. Before stepping outside, she looked at me. “I never meant to frighten you. I just didn’t know how else to reach him.”
The door closed behind her.
I turned to Mark. “You owe me the truth.”
“I can’t do this.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me.”
He stared at the floor. “I can’t. She’s a monster.”
“You owe me the truth.”