Martha raised her son Peter alone after her husband Jack walked out twenty years ago. She let go. She moved on. She believed she had closed that chapter.
Peter married Betty. They had a daughter, Mia. For years Martha joined family dinners, holiday gatherings, birthdays. But suddenly she stopped being invited to their home.
Peter’s excuses came often. “Guest room being renovated.” “Plumbing issues.” “We’ll let you know soon.” Always vague. Always postponing.
One afternoon Martha surprised them with a music box she found at a flea market. She stood at their front door with it, excited. Inside, the smiles felt forced. Betty hugged her tightly. Peter avoided her eyes.
Over dinner Martha asked where they kept the wine. She assumed basement. Betty jumped to fetch wine from somewhere else. Peter excused himself. Martha felt something wrong.
A few days later Peter and Betty asked if Martha could watch Mia for the afternoon. Martha agreed. Mia drew pictures. Martha asked to see them. One drawing shocked her.
It showed a house. Stick figure below house, apart from others. That figure had gray hair. The caption? “Grandpa Jack lives downstairs.”
Martha’s heart pounded. Jack was supposed to be gone forever. She asked Mia about it. Mia said Daddy told her Grandpa Jack was living downstairs. And it was supposed to be a secret from Martha.
Martha walked to the basement door. It was locked. She knocked. After long pause, footsteps. The door creaked. Jack stood there. Older, weaker, sorry.
He said he lost everything years back. Job, home, pride. He came to Peter asking to make amends. Peter and Betty converted basement into small apartment for him. It was supposed to be temporary.
Years passed. Martha never knew. Peter said they hid it because they thought it would hurt her. Because Jack hurt her once before.
Martha was angry. Hurt. Betrayed. Peter tried to defend it: friendship, need, time. Jack explained his health had declined. He needed a place.
Tears came. Martha told them she needed space. She walked out. She needed time.
Now Martha wonders: does she forgive Jack? Does she return? Does she accept that Peter’s choice was love mixed with guilt?
Martha doesn’t know. But she does know this: the drawing exposed a hidden life she was never allowed to see.
