Chapter 22 - Whispers from the High Security Ward
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A year later, Marcus received a call from the warden at the Florence Federal Correctional Complex.
"Mr. Sterling, this is Warden Vance," the heavy voice spoke through the phone speaker. "I'm calling to inform you that your mother, Margaret Sterling, has been admitted to the prison infirmary following a severe cardiac event."
I sat at my home office desk, watching Grace paint with watercolors on the kitchen table through the open doorway.
"Is she stable?" I asked neutrally.
"She is in critical condition," the warden replied. "She has requested to see you. Under federal guidelines, family visits are permitted for end-of-life circumstances."
I closed my eyes, taking a long, slow breath. The memories of her cold voice in the Paradise Valley dining room flooded back into my mind.
“Family loyalty is supposed to be permanent.”
"Marcus?" Irene’s soft voice broke my train of thought. She stood in the doorway, holding a kitchen towel, having heard the tone of my voice.
"My mother is dying," I told her, setting the phone on speaker.
Irene walked over, sitting on the edge of the desk. She didn't tell me what to do. She didn't push me toward forgiveness, nor did she encourage coldness. She simply held my hand, giving me the space to decide who I wanted to be.
"Tell the warden I will come," I said into the phone. "Tomorrow morning."
"Very well, Mr. Sterling," the warden said before hanging up.
May you like
I looked at Irene. "I need to look at her one last time. Not to fight... just to close the door."
"I'll go with you," Irene said softly. "You don't have to face that place alone."
