Mom started with the previous Friday morning, when the lawyer had showed up at the house with the divorce papers. She talked about her discussion with her own attorney, and then the calls to Jeannie and me. Three times she broke down crying, and Doctor Caruthers gently talked her through it. Mom looked a little nervous when she reached the part in her story where I arrived at the house, and the doctor interrupted her calmly.
"Just a moment, Kathleen," she said with a light touch on my mother's knee. "Paul, would you mind giving us some privacy to discuss this? You can have a seat out in the lobby."
I nodded and gave my mother a squeeze on her shoulder before walking out and closing the door behind me. I heard the doctor lock the door, and I blew out a breath before walking to the lobby.
