Chapter 15 - The Two Mothers
Margaret and Clara met without Glen.
That surprised him.
Before the meeting, Clara asked whether she should bring the hospital bracelet. Margaret said no.
'Why?' Clara asked.
'Because I don't want us comparing evidence of who had more right to him.'
Clara was quiet for a long time.
Then she left the bracelet at home.
That choice did more for Glen than either woman knew.
He had begun to fear every object connected to his birth would eventually become a weapon in a competition nobody admitted they were having.
"I thought this was about me."
I looked at him.
"Maybe that's exactly why they need a conversation that isn't."
He hated that I was right.
They met at Margaret's house.
Margaret made tea.
Clara brought nothing.
Later, each told us parts.
Margaret apologized for not investigating the anonymous call from Elaine more aggressively.
Clara told her she was not responsible for St. Agnes lying.
Margaret said, "I still chose not to look."
Clara answered, "So did a lot of people."
Not absolution.
Recognition.
Then Margaret asked the question she had carried since the pool party.
"Do you hate me?"
Clara said no.
"I hated the idea of you."
Margaret laughed through tears.
"That's fair."
"No. It was easier."
They talked for three hours.
They did not become friends.
Good.
Life did not need a photograph of two mothers holding hands.
Glen started seeing Clara once a month.
Sometimes coffee.
Sometimes lunch with me and Ariel.
The first time Clara came to our house after the birthday, she wore jeans and a long shirt.
Ariel immediately pulled it up.
"Daddy's name!"
Clara laughed and gently lowered it.
"Yes."
Ariel touched the fabric over the tattoo.
"Why?"
Clara looked at Glen.
He nodded.
"Because I loved your daddy before I knew where he went."
Ariel accepted that.
Then demanded strawberries.
Dad saw Clara less.
Their separation became indefinite.
He asked me once whether I thought she would come back.
"That's not mine to answer."
He looked hurt.
I let him.
Consequences did not need cushioning.
The St. Agnes review published its report the following spring.
Seventeen cases.
Nine confirmed serious consent failures.
Three confirmed false death representations.
Financial irregularities.
Missing files.
Institutional apologies.
A compensation process.
No miracle.
No restoration of thirty-five years.
Clara submitted a claim.
Glen did not.
His loss was different.
I still had one question left for Dad.
"Why did Clara never like me even before Glen?"
His answer surprised me.
"Because she thought your mother chose you over her."
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