She sighs. Disappointment stains her expression. I imagine that’s how I look every time I think of my pretend husband.
“You may make excuses for him, but I’m not about to,” I say firmly. “He’s your son; you’re being a good mother. I’m just not sure he deserves it.”
She exhales deeply. “I suppose I feel an obligation to justify his actions. It feels like making excuses for myself. After all, I’m part of the reason he is the way he is.”
I listen to her attentively, waiting for her to get the courage to continue.
“I didn’t shield him the way I should have when he was a boy. He was at his father’s mercy. And Vlad… well, he wasn’t exactly what you would call a doting father. He was harsh. Cruel. He loved Aleksandr in his own way, of course. But he didn’t know how to be a father without ridi
