For years, her certainty had been a kind of gravity in our family.

I had mistaken obedience for respect and avoidance for keeping the peace.

“I thought you’d throw away your career,” she said.

“You were finally getting the position you’d worked toward.”

“You let another person believe I had rejected our son.”

“You’d said you never wanted to speak to her again.”

“I said many things I regret.

I didn’t authorize you to speak for me.”