“Evidence went missing during the trial, and the charges were dismissed. But guess who one of the arresting officers on the scene was?”

“Who?”

“None other than Scott Summers.”

22. Adam Morgan

22

Adam Morgan

The guard opens the door, and I step into the small room. Immediately my body is wrapped in Mother’s arms. She smells of her usual perfume and she’s wearing all black as if she’s dressed for my funeral. The guard informs us that visiting hours are over in ten minutes and then closes the door behind him.

“Sweetheart,” she says kissing my cheeks. “What did they do to you?” She examines my face—poking and prodding to ensure it’s healing properly. She’s not a doctor, but she’s seen enough of them to think she knows what she’s doing.

“It’s nothing, Mom.” I pull her back in for a hug, so she’ll stop staring and trying to put my face back together. I guide her back into her seat and I take the one across from her. She reaches for my hands, holding them, just gazing at me. Her mouth opens, then closes, then opens again, searching for the words to say.

“What, Mom?”

She says nothing. Continues staring.

“You’re trying to decide if I did it?”

“No.” Her response is resolute.

“No?” I cock my head.

“You’re my son. I know you didn’t do this and I’m going to get you out of here.” She squeezes my hands.

“Mom, I was sleeping with Kelly. They found her body in my bed. My DNA was all over her.” I shake my head. Saying it out loud makes me realize how truly fucked I am.

“Having an affair isn’t a crime,” my mother snaps back.

“Mom! Fuck the affair, look at the evidence they have!”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to get you the best defense attorney.” She nods as she speaks.

“I already have one.”

“Who?”

“Sarah!” Mother has never treated her fairly. No matter what Sarah did she could never live up to my mother’s expectations of success because their visions of success never aligned.

“Sarah? She’s the one that got you into this mess.”

I pull my hands away. “What? How?”

“Well, if she would have been more focused on loving you than her career, you wouldn’t have been diddle-dipping elsewhere in the first place. Plus, she deprived you of fatherhood and stopped me from being a grandmother.” Mom crosses her arms in front of her chest.

“None of that is true, Mom.” I let out a huff and roll my eyes. “She just wasn’t ready yet. You know why and you know what she went through.” I narrow my eyes. How can she say things like that about my wife? Sarah has been through enough, and she doesn’t need this from my mother.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone has a pity story, Adam.”