The next morning, I woke up feeling strangely light. The pain was still there, a deep, sharp ache in my soul, but it was now accompanied by a clarity I had never experienced before. I chose a gray suit, elegant and understated, and pulled my hair back into a simple bun. I wanted Rachel to see me exactly as I was: the aging mother she had tried to erase.
When I arrived at Nora’s office, they were already in the conference room, looking anxious. “They should be,” I remarked quietly to Nora.
As I entered, Rachel and Derek stood up immediately. My daughter was wearing a light blue dress, almost innocent in its cut. “Mom,” she came forward to hug me, but I took a subtle step back. She hesitated, confused, but quickly turned the movement into a gesture of pulling out a chair for me. “Are you feeling better today?”
“Much better,” I replied, sitting down. “It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do.”
Nora sat down next to me, her expression one of absolute professionalism. “Well,” she began. “Marian Millerasked me to call this meeting to discuss some adjustments to the financial plans.”