Strangely, their conversations became easier once he stopped trying to negotiate every boundary.
One evening, while discussing paperwork, Richard said something Susan hadn’t expected.
“Mom told me yesterday that you took her home away from her.”
Susan remained silent.
“So I asked her when she started believing that house was hers to control.”
“What did she say?”
“She said because I lived there, she assumed it was mine too.”
Susan leaned back.
Richard continued.
“And then I realized I encouraged that assumption every single time she called it my house and I didn’t correct her.”
“Yes.”
There was another pause.
“I think part of me liked hearing her call it that.”
That confession mattered more than another apology.
“Thank you for admitting it.”
“It doesn’t help us, does it?”
Susan considered her answer.
“It helps the truth. That isn’t always the same thing as repairing a marriage.”
