Chapter 13 - THE ROOM ERIC LEFT EMPTY
Eric moved into a small rental.
No family money.
He got a warehouse job while rebuilding credit.
Humbling.
Useful.
Linda missed him terribly.
She almost called every day.
Sometimes did.
But she stopped sending money.
That changed their relationship.
Eric became angry.
Then less.
Then occasionally normal.
One Sunday, he visited Linda under the new rules.
Jenna was there.
Mason was not.
Eric looked around his old room.
Empty.
“Mom threw out my chair?”
Linda said:
“It was broken.”
“You loved that chair.”
“No. You loved that chair.”
Small distinction.
Then Eric asked:
“Can I stay for dinner?”
Linda looked at Jenna.
Old habit.
Jenna shook her head.
“Don’t ask me. It’s your house to occupy.”
Linda realized.
Her decision.
“Yes,” she told Eric.
Then:
“But you leave by eight.”
Eric nodded.
Boundary.
Not exile.
That mattered.
Later, Linda called Jenna.
“I think he’s changing.”
Jenna said:
“Maybe.”
“You don’t believe it?”
“I believe time.”
Linda hated that answer.
Still.
Then Mason decided he wanted to see Linda again regularly.
Not Eric.
Linda accepted.
No guilt.
One afternoon he asked:
“Can Grandma come to my school thing?”
Jenna said yes.
Linda cried when invited.
Then promised not to bring Eric.
May you like
Kept promise.
Trust rebuilt in boring pieces.
