Chapter 10 - The Son Who Finally Asked for Help
Preston arrived the next morning without Kendra.
For once, he called before coming.
I almost didn't answer.
But something in his voice the previous night had reminded me of the boy I used to know.
The boy who cried when our dog died.
The boy who saved his allowance to buy me flowers on Mother's Day.
The boy who once told me he wanted to build houses so everyone could have somewhere safe to live.
I agreed to meet him in the courtyard.
He walked through the gate slowly.
His shirt was wrinkled.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes.
He looked older than thirty-five.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hello, Preston."
He glanced toward the guesthouse.
Then he looked away.
"I owe you an apology."
I remained silent.
He sat across from me.
"Dad told me you had already agreed to transfer the villa. He said you wanted us to have it eventually."
"Did you believe him?"
Preston nodded.
"At first."
"And when I told you I hadn't agreed?"
His face tightened.
"I thought you were changing your mind."
"Did you truly believe that?"
He looked down.
"No."
I waited.
Finally, he whispered.
"I wanted to believe it."
Those words hurt more than any insult.
He continued.
"My company is failing. I borrowed money to keep the projects moving. Then the costs increased, two partners left, and everything started collapsing."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Dad said you wouldn't understand."
I took a slow breath.
"Preston, I managed financial investments before you were born."
"I know that now."
"You knew it then. You simply chose not to respect it."
He flinched.
I wasn't trying to punish him.
I needed him to hear the truth.
"What about Kendra?" I asked.
Preston rubbed his forehead.
"She said the loan paperwork was temporary. She told me once we secured financing, we could repay the debt and make everything right."
"By putting my house at risk?"
He nodded miserably.
"And Dad?"
Preston reached into his jacket.
"He promised the investor something I didn't know about."
He handed me a copy of an agreement.
The company Richard controlled would receive the proceeds from the financing.
Preston's debts would be addressed only after several other obligations were satisfied.
If the venture failed, the company's pledged assets could be exposed to claims from its creditors.
My villa was listed among those anticipated assets.
I stared at the page.
"Your father was using you."
Preston's eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
"That doesn't excuse what you did."
"I know that too."
For the first time, he didn't argue.
He didn't blame Kendra.
He didn't tell me I was selfish.
He simply sat there, ashamed.
Then he looked at me.
"Mom, I don't expect you to give me anything. I just want to know whether you'll ever forgive me."
My chest ached.
"Forgiveness isn't the same as trust, Preston."
He nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"I think I'm starting to."
I reached across the table and touched his hand.
It was the first time I had touched him affectionately since the police arrived.
His eyes closed.
For one beautiful second, I thought we might begin repairing what had been broken.
Then a car horn sounded outside.
Preston looked toward the gate.
Kendra was standing beside her SUV.
She held Lila's diaper bag in one hand and her phone in the other.
Her face was cold.
"Preston! Get out here!"
He stood.
"Kendra, please."
She looked straight at me.
"If you tell your mother anything else, Preston, don't expect to see your daughter whenever you want."
May you like
Then she added something even worse.
"And Evelyn, you might want to check the county property records before celebrating."
