Part 2: My son h.i.t me 30 times in front of his wife… so the next morning, while he sat in his office, I sold the house he thought was his.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I think you were giving me something about where we came from.”

“And I thought it was cheap.”

He looked down.

“I was wrong.”

I slipped the chain over my head.

The locket settled against my chest.

Then Trevor said:

“Mom?”

“Yes?”

“I don't want the company.”

I laughed.

“You couldn't have it if you did.”

“I know.”

He smiled.

Then became serious.

“I mean I don't think I want what I used to want.”

“What do you want?”

He looked across the yard.

At welders.

Project managers.

Children climbing on a display excavator despite signs asking them not to.

“I like estimating.”

“I like going home at five.”

“I like knowing if I screw up, it's my screwup.”

He laughed.

“That sounds stupid.”

“No.”

It sounded like adulthood.

Then a little girl came running toward us.

Maybe seven.

Ana's granddaughter.

She stopped when she saw the locket.

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