I kept the paperwork in a metal box in my closet.
I had never told Ethan because I didn’t want him growing up believing money was the reason he should be proud of me.
I wanted him to know that I was his mother first.
Not an investor.
Not a business owner.
Not someone important.
Just Mom.
That afternoon, Ethan came to my apartment.
He looked exhausted.
He stood outside my door for several seconds before knocking.
When I opened it, he didn’t say anything.
He just hugged me.
I stood still.
Then, slowly, I hugged him back.
“I’m sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
“I know.”
“No, Mom. I really am.”
We sat at the small kitchen table.
He looked around the apartment.
The same apartment he’d grown up in.
“You never changed anything.”
“Some things don’t need changing.”
He looked down.
“Daniel told me.”
I knew exactly what he meant.
“The restaurant.”
“Yes.”
I waited.
“He said you helped save it.”
“I helped.”
“He said you invested money.”
“I did.”
“How much?”
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
“No.”
He looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because last night wasn’t about money.”
His eyes filled again.
“It was about respect.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“No, Ethan. Listen to me.”
He looked at me.
“You were embarrassed by me because you thought I was small.”
He flinched.
“I never thought you were small.”
“You told me to remember my place.”
“I know.”
“You said it because Claire wanted you to.”
