“No,” he replied. “It isn’t.”

For the first time, there was no defense in his voice.

“I’m sorry.”

Mom nodded.

“I didn’t think about what I was doing.”

“I know.”

“I thought about what I wanted and not about what you needed.”

“Yes.”

He looked embarrassed.

“I don’t know you very well.”

“No,” Mom said gently. “You don’t.”

Then she surprised me.

“You might know me better if you had spent the last three weeks paying attention.”

Gabriel looked down.

“You’re right.”

Mom continued, still calm.

“Sara chose a good man. I believe that man is still in there. But you let another version of yourself run this house while she was gone.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t do that again.”

She did not raise her voice. She did not need to.

Gabriel nodded.

“I won’t.”

“I’m sorry, Helen.”

“I know.”

PART 4

For the first time since her diagnosis, I saw Mom differently that night.