Before the meeting ended, Victoria signed a factual acknowledgment prepared by counsel stating that Elena had attempted contact and that communications purporting to represent my wishes had been issued without my authorization.

The document did not erase five years, but it corrected the story on which so many other stories had been built.

I told my mother she would not meet Willa yet.

Any future meeting would depend on a genuine change in her behavior, Elena’s agreement, and Willa’s comfort.

Victoria asked how long that would take.

I said I didn’t know.

In the elevator, Elena said, “Thank you for not asking me to comfort her.”