Page 104 of Malaise

“Den drew it in kindergarten as part of their arts and crafts. He had it on his set of drawers in his room.”

My mouth twitches—I don’t know if I should smile or cry.

“It’s you two, sweetheart. He drew the picture of you two.”

I swallow the lump in my throat as I trace the red lines of what I now see as a girl in the grass, and across to a boy who holds something in his hand.

Mum reaches over and points to a blue square in the background. “That’s our house. He said you two were playing Tonka at the time.”

Fuck it. She’s ruined me. I cradle my hands around it and let a lone tear slip out. “Thank you.”

“We might not see eye to eye anymore, Meg, but don’t forget there was once love.”

“Once?”

She offers a sad smile as she looks down to her hands clasped around the base of her drink. “I have no doubt that we’ll sort things out, just not right now. Don’t try and push it with your father; you’re doing more damage than you would walking away and giving both of you space to breathe.”

“He’s disowned me because I followed my heart.”

“He’s disowned you because of his own ideals.”

“That you share.”

She shrugs one shoulder. “I see both sides, but I’m afraid I agree with his more. They can’t be good for you, Meg. Just look what the life did to Brett’s mother.”

“You knew her?”

“We went to school together. I knew of her.” She frowns at her iced coffee. “She became somebody I could barely recognise, even before she fell ill.”

“Because she was a good person, trying to do the right thing even when the odds were against her.”

“Exactly.” Mum looks up, holding my gaze. “So what do you think will happen to you? Doesn’t matter how good your intentions are, the way they live their life doesn’t lean toward lenience. It’s hard and unforgiving.”

“It’s what they’re driven to do by the judgment of people like us.”

“You can only excuse so much, Meg.”

“But you can also forgive a lot more than any of you are willing to.” I down the best part of my drink and stand, ready to leave. “I take it then I can’t count on you to do the right thing and provide a statement.”

She shakes her head regretfully. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. We’re doing this with your best interest at heart.”

“Bullshit,” I say on a laugh. “You’re doing it with your reputation in mind.”