He threw his hands up. “So you’re doing this because I hit you? I didn’t mean it! I was mad!”
“Anger explains behavior,” I said. “It doesn’t excuse it.”
Margaret added, “Your mother will retain a living allowance, but nothing will be passed to you.”
He stared at me, voice cracking. “You’re disowning me.”
“No,” I whispered. “If I wanted to disown you, I wouldn’t be sitting here trying to show you the weight of your actions. I’m doing this because you need to learn before life teaches you in harsher ways.”
His shoulders slumped. For a moment, he looked like the boy I raised.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“I know,” I said. “But sorry is just a starting point.”
After Margaret left, the house felt strangely still. We stood in the kitchen surrounded by untouched food and cooling cookies.
He rubbed his palms together. “I don’t care about the money, Mom. I care that you think I don’t love you.”
“I know you love me,” I said. “But love without respect becomes dangerous.”
He lowered his gaze. “I don’t know why I’ve been so angry… maybe school, maybe friends… maybe I thought being tough meant pushing everyone away.” He swallowed. “Hitting you—God, I hate myself for that.”