The Boardroom Went Quiet When My Mother’s Phone Rang

the family.”

I ran my thumb along the edge of the old workbench.

“What do you say?”

Long silence.

Then, rough and low, like the words didn’t fit in his mouth yet.

“I think we should’ve listened to you years ago.”

Not an apology.

Still.

From Derek, it was close enough to make my chest do something odd.

We ended the call a minute later with nothing solved.

But continue reading …