Page 91 of Power Play
My dad pipes up, laying a hand over one of my mom's. "But we thought at the very least we owed you an apology. The world's biggest apology."
Martha comes in then and sets hot mugs of tea in front of each of us, giving me a little squeeze of reassurance on her way back out of the dining room.
Dread swirls in my stomach. Something has happened.
"What's happened?" Ben asks for me.
Mom and dad glance at each other before mom begins. "Tracey...Tracey's been admitted."
"Admitted?"
"To a psych ward."
"What?"
My dad sighs, and it makes him sound ancient. "Apparently she was caught in a local hospital, dressed up like a nurse, wandering around the nursery."
"Thankfully she was caught before she could do anything, but she had a breakdown when she couldn't finish her plan."
"Her plan?"
"She kept claiming that the babies were hers."
A shiver runs down my spine and Ben rests a hand on the back of my neck, reassuringly.
My mom continues the story, staring at the back of her hands. She speaks as if it's painful. "She was charged with identity fraud and attempted kidnapping."
Shock slams into me. I had wondered all those months ago if she could be driven to do something so insane. But a part of me wanted to believe that she couldn't. That she just hated me that much but wouldn't actually take it that far now that she didn't get to bully me or steal anyone's attention away.
"She would have been sent to jail for who knows how many years, but when we found out, we pleaded with the judge to sentence her to two years in an involuntary psychiatric facility with the ability to prolong it if she doesn't improve." My dad finishes.
I sit back in my chair, dumbfounded. I feel like I would have heard about this on the news, but between hockey and the babies we really haven't watched any news lately.
I look at Ben, who is simply waiting for me to process everything, but my parents continue. "Her sentencing forced us to have a good hard look in the mirror, Lace. We're not proud of how we've behaved. After..." My mom can't even say her name.
"Savannah." I offer.
She nods. "After..." her voice cracks. "You became withdrawn, secluded. You were so quiet and unassuming, while your sister expanded into the vacuum losing your sister and you withdrawing caused."
Ben goes to defend me but my father butts in. "We're not saying it's an excuse. There's no excusing what we did, and we understand ifthere's no forgiving us either. We simply want to explain it from our side...and then apologize again."
My mom nods. "It was so much easier to focus on Tracey's celebrations and accomplishments than it was to grieve your sister's death. Maybe it was too easy. Maybe we should have tried harder. No. We should have tried harder."
I nod.
My mom's tired eyes lock with mine, her voice wobbly. "So, we're sorry. That's all we've come here to say."
I nod again. I'm not ready to forgive them, but maybe my heart has softened to them a little bit.
We're silent for a moment, all lost in thought. "I won't let you see them yet. Not until I'm certain you can treat their mother with kindness and respect, but would you like to see a picture of your grandbabies?"
It's an olive branch. It's the only thing I'm willing to extend for now. They've hurt me deeply, and repeatedly, but they're trying to make amends, so I can give them this.
My mom's eyes light up and she nods enthusiastically. Ben opens his phone and finds the photo album we all share. On his screen is their one month picture. He points to each in turn. "Savannah and Catherine."
My mom gasps, her eyes watering. "Oh, Lace. They're beautiful. Perfect little angels." She hugs my dad to hide her tears. I didn't know how she'd react to naming one of the girls after Savannah. She seems moved but not upset.
"And you don't know who the father is?" My dad asks. It's not judgemental, though, and I know he's trying to rewrite the harsh words he said to me that night.
