Chapter 3 - REBECCA CAME TO MY DOOR
Rebecca appeared eleven days later.
Alone.
I saw her through the doorbell camera.
She looked terrible.
No makeup.
Hair tied back.
Hands shaking.
I did not open the door.
“What do you want?”
She looked toward the camera.
“Margaret.”
“What?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
Her eyes filled.
“Mom is blaming me.”
That almost made me laugh.
Of course she was.
“For what?”
“For making her angry.”
There it was.
Helen needed someone else responsible for Helen.
Always.
Rebecca continued:
“She says if I hadn’t argued with you first, none of it would have happened.”
“You did argue with me.”
“I know.”
“You blocked me.”
Rebecca looked down.
“I know.”
“You told Mom I was using Lily against her.”
“Yes.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
At least she answered correctly.
Rebecca started crying.
“She said you thought you were better than us.”
I stayed silent.
“She said since Lily was born, you treated everyone like they were dangerous.”
“You weren’t dangerous until you helped surround me while I was holding my baby.”
Rebecca flinched.
Then whispered:
“I didn’t know Mom would do that.”
“I believe you.”
Her face changed with relief.
Then I continued.
“That doesn’t make you safe.”
Relief disappeared.
Important distinction.
Rebecca placed an envelope on the porch.
“I found these.”
“What?”
“Mom’s texts.”
My stomach tightened.
“About what?”
“About Lily.”
Rebecca walked away without asking to come inside.
I waited until she reached her car before opening the door.
Inside the envelope were printed screenshots.
Mom to Rebecca:
Margaret thinks becoming a mother made her powerful.
Another:
If she keeps refusing overnight visits, we’ll make her regret humiliating me.
Then:
James will eventually make her fall in line. He always does.
That one hurt.
Because years earlier, it might have been true.
The final message was dated the morning of the barbecue.
Today she learns this family does not revolve around her baby.
I sat on the porch holding the papers.
The fire had been impulsive.
The confrontation was not.
Mom had planned a showdown.
May you like
And Rebecca knew one was coming.
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