Chapter 18 - BRENDA AFTER MARK
Brenda and Mark divorced.
Quietly.
No tabloid war.
Mark kept his company.
Brenda kept her lawful assets after restitution.
She moved out of Bennett family property.
Started working for an independent event-production company.
Not as CFO.
Not handling client money initially.
Her conviction made employers cautious.
One hired her with controls.
That was fair.
She asked to see Leo.
He was eight.
I asked him.
“No.”
We respected it.
A year later, he changed his mind.
Therapist’s office.
Fifteen minutes.
Brenda said:
“I’m sorry I knew money might be coming from your mom and didn’t ask her.”
Leo stared.
“Did you know Grandma would hit me?”
“No.”
“Did you stop her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was shocked and selfish. It was my wedding and I cared about the party before I cared about what happened.”
Leo nodded.
“Dad did that too.”
“Yes.”
“Adults are weird.”
“Yes.”
He agreed to another visit months later.
Their relationship became small.
Cards.
Lunch.
Occasional calls.
May you like
No forced aunt-nephew closeness.
Enough.
