Another pause.
“For trying to break into the house after you changed the lock.”
Then, finally:
“And for telling myself it was okay because I’d inherit everything someday.”
There it was.
The deepest part of the problem.
I asked why he had believed that.
Tommy started crying.
“Because Dad always said everything would be mine eventually.”
My chest tightened.
James had said things like that.
Casually.
While showing Tommy how to repair something.
While pointing out property boundaries.
“Someday, all of this will be yours.”
We had meant continuity.
Tommy had heard future ownership.
“Your father was wrong to say it that way,” I told him. “And I was wrong for never correcting it.”
Tommy became hopeful.
“So you understand?”
“No.”
He went quiet.
“I understand where the idea began. I do not understand stealing from me.”
He cried harder.
“We thought you wouldn’t need those things.”
I looked around the room.
