The officers were still there. Not because Michael was right. Because I understood the argument he wanted to have wasn’t the argument we needed to have. The older officer seemed to sense that.
“If you feel unsafe staying here tonight, you have options.”
“I don’t feel unsafe.”
That surprised Michael.
“I feel unwelcome.”
The officer nodded once.
“That’s different.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s something you two will probably need to address privately.”
He gave both of us a final reminder that neither person should remove property belonging to the other without agreement and that changing access to a shared residence could create legal complications. Then the officers left. And the condo became impossibly quiet. Linda headed to the kitchen.
“Well,” she said, “that was humiliating.”
“For whom?”
Michael cut in.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“Please go home.”
Linda blinked.
“You asked me to come.”
“I know.”
“You said you needed support.”
