Chapter 22 - THE MEETING
Cormac was twenty-two when he chose to meet Clarice.
One time.
Neutral office.
Mediator.
No me.
No Stetson.
He told me afterward.
First question:
“Why a dog kennel?”
Clarice cried.
“I wanted to humiliate you.”
Cormac sat very still.
“Why?”
“Because you kept calling for your mother.”
“And?”
“I wanted you to understand she could not always rescue you.”
Cormac’s face went cold.
“That’s worse than I expected.”
“Yes.”
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love controlling us more?”
Clarice did not answer.
Cormac waited.
Finally:
“At that time, I behaved as though I did.”
Good.
No fake equivalence.
Then:
“Did Dad tell you to lock me up?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you to stop?”
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
“Several.”
“Did he stop you?”
“No.”
Cormac nodded.
“Okay.”
Clarice asked:
“Can you forgive me?”
Cormac answered:
“I came for facts.”
The meeting lasted twenty-six minutes.
No hug.
No second meeting.
May you like
Birthday cards only.
Enough.
