Dr. Bart shifts slightly, but his voice stays level. “This isn’t about blame,” he says. “It’s about filling in the empty spaces. Matthew grew up with pieces of a story. If you don’t give him the rest, those empty spaces stay filled with pain and resentment. This is your chance to give him something real.”
Her fingers curl tighter into her arms. “I didn’thavea choice,” she finally mutters. “Your father died, and suddenly there was this money, enough to build something for myself for once, for us. I wasn’t going to waste it playing the poor single mother while everyone pitied me.”
“So, you lied,” I say softly.
Her eyes flash up to mine, wet but sharp. “I protected you. I didn’t want you to grow up spoiled and entitled just because your father died.”
I shake my head slowly, the ache pressing into my chest. “Instead, you let me grow up blaming myself for you not being there.”
She shakes her head hard, like she can shake the words right out of the air. “Iwasthere for you. Maybe I didn’t come to games and plays, but I was there where it mattered. Jesus, Matthew, I found you this apartment. I let that woman into my life. I made sure she wasn’t scamming you.”
The words stop me cold.That woman.Brooke.
My voice drops. “What do you mean you ‘made sure’?”
She waves a hand, like it’s nothing. “I did what any good mother would do. I made sure she was who she said she was. That the baby was-”
She clamps her mouth shut.
I lean forward slowly, my pulse pounding in my ears. “That the baby waswhat, Ma?”
She looks away, but it’s too late. Her silence gives her away.
“You didn’t,” I whisper.
Dr. Bart shifts slightly, his tone still calm but firmer now. “What did you do, ma’am?”
She opens her mouth, shuts it, then snaps, “I got a test, alright? A paternity test. I wasn’t going to let my son ruin his life raising some other man’s child.”
The sound that rips out of me is somewhere between a laugh and a snarl. I shoot to my feet so fast the coffee table rattles. “Whatthefuckis wrong with you?” I yell, the control I’ve been holding together splintering. “You tested mydaughter? My daughter!”
“Matthew,” Dr. Bart says, voice low and grounding, but I’m already shaking.
“She’smyfamily,” I choke out. “Brooke trusted me. Trustedus. And you-” I point at her, my hands trembling, “-you violatedeverything.”
My mother stands too, defensive now. “I was protecting you! How was I supposed to know-”
“She’s not you, Ma!” I roar. “Brooke isn’t you.I’m not you.And Penny sure as hell isn’t your mistake to clean up.”
She reels back like I’ve struck her, one hand tightening over her chest. Her face crumples, but I can’t pull it back now.
“You can’t come back from this,” I whisper.
Dr. Bart’s voice cuts through, edged with warning. “Matthew, perhaps you should think before you say something that’s permanent-”
I shake my head hard, the words already sitting heavy in my chest. “Ihavebeen thinking, Bart. Ever since she overstepped before. This-” I look at her, my tone leaves no room for doubt, “-this isn’t something Brooke will forgive you for. And even if she does, I won’t. Iaskedyou into my home because I trusted you. And you-” my voice cracks but I don’t stop, “-you broke it.”
She gets up fast, trying to reach for me but I step back. “I’m yourmother, Matthew. You can’t just-”
“I can,” I say quietly. And the stillness that follows is louder than any yell. “Being my mother doesn’t give you the right to keep crossing lines like this. To treat me like I’m still that kid youget to control. You’ve crossed a line you don’t get to come back from.”
Her mouth opens, no sharp retort this time, no rehearsed defence. Just silence.
I take a step back. “From now on,” I say, my voice trembling but firm, “you don’t get to be a part of Penny’s life. Or mine.”
Tears stream down her face, the anger slipping into panic. “Matthew-”
I shake my head once, final. “Goodbye, Ma.”
