“I was upset because my daughter turned her back on her family,” Margaret said.

Her voice stayed calm and even.

“I came here to give you a chance to fix this family before it’s too late.”

She lowered her teacup to the side table and reached into the black leather handbag on the cushion beside her.

She unzipped an inside pocket and drew out a white sheet of paper folded lengthwise.

“I brought something for us to settle,” she said.

She held the paper loosely against the strap of her purse, keeping the words turned toward her chest.