“She threatened to turn Mom against me,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t face another family war. I was a coward. I’m sorry.”
I believed him, but I was still furious that he’d concealed something so serious.
“We need to talk to your mother,” I said. “Today. If Tessa is exploiting her, we have to stop this.”
“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “We do.”
Roy arranged to visit Margaret that evening, when Tessa wouldn’t be present.
***
Margaret’s house smelled of lemon polish and old tea.
She embraced Roy for a long time, then acknowledged me with the distant nod someone might give a delivery driver.
Part of me resented going to such lengths for a woman who barely tolerated me.
We settled in the front room.
Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, Roy explained that Tessa had been making false accusations about him.
Margaret dismissed his concerns.
