Chapter 5 - Their Son Comes Home
Michael Mercer was twenty-one years old and finishing his senior year at Columbia.
He arrived at Rebecca's apartment shortly after four.
Rebecca opened the door.
He stood in the hallway staring at her.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Daniel's eyes.
Rebecca's patience.
“Mom.”
Rebecca pulled him into her arms.
Michael held her tightly.
For twenty-three years, Rebecca had protected him from the worst parts of his parents' marriage.
She had never criticized Daniel in front of him.
She had never discussed affairs she suspected.
She had never explained why she sometimes slept in the guest room.
Now all of that protection had collapsed in a single night.
Michael stepped back.
“Is it true?”
Rebecca knew exactly what he meant.
“Yes.”
“Dad brought another woman into the apartment?”
“Yes.”
“And told you to leave?”
“Yes.”
Michael's face darkened.
“I'm going to kill him.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“No.”
Rebecca guided him inside.
“You will not ruin your future because your father ruined his judgment.”
Michael paced across the living room.
“How long?”
Rebecca sat down.
“I don't know exactly.”
“How long did you know?”
“About Chloe?”
“Yes.”
“Six months.”
Michael stopped.
“You knew for six months?”
Rebecca nodded.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were taking finals.”
Michael stared at her in disbelief.
“You stayed because of my finals?”
“No.”
Rebecca's voice softened.
“I stayed until I understood what leaving would cost.”
Michael sat across from her.
“What does that mean?”
Rebecca looked toward the window.
“It means your father built our life around the assumption that I would never challenge him.”
Michael swallowed.
“And now?”
“Now I'm challenging him.”
His phone rang.
Daniel.
Michael rejected the call.
Rebecca noticed.
“You should speak to him.”
“I don't want to.”
“He's still your father.”
“He humiliated you.”
“That is between him and me.”
Michael shook his head.
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Protect him.”
Rebecca looked at her son.
The words landed harder than she expected.
Michael continued.
“Every time he missed something, you made an excuse.”
“He was working.”
“Every time he yelled, you told me he was stressed.”
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
Michael's voice softened.
“You protected him so well that I thought you were okay.”
Rebecca looked back up.
For the first time since leaving Daniel, her composure cracked.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
“I wasn't.”
Michael moved beside her.
Rebecca rested her forehead against his shoulder.
They stayed that way in silence.
Then Michael's phone buzzed again.
This time it was a text.
Your mother is trying to destroy everything I built.
Call me.
Michael read it twice.
Rebecca saw his expression.
“What did he say?”
Michael showed her the screen.
Rebecca stared at the message.
Then she handed the phone back.
Michael began typing.
Rebecca stopped him.
“Don't defend me.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because I don't need defending.”
She stood.
“And because your father needs to experience something he has avoided for a very long time.”
“What?”
May you like
Rebecca looked toward the darkening skyline.
“Consequences.”
