A card at Christmas and on her Birthday. Maybe the occasional bunch of flowers, or a ‘phone call once in a while. Normally rushed and full of silences – they had little to say and she didn’t know how to fill the gaps for these ‘strangers’.
The mistake was hers.
She should have left here long ago – after Charlie’s death would probably have been the best time. Struck out and found herself a new place to settle down. But like many mothers she had hoped that they would come around to see her point of view.