Chapter 13 - THE JOURNAL REENA GAVE HER THERAPIST
Therapy records are private.
Not a fishing pond for prosecutors.
But Reena chose to disclose portions through her attorney during plea negotiations after consulting counsel.
Not raw therapy notes.
A written personal statement she had prepared.
Why?
She wanted prosecutor to believe she had changed without pleading to the harshest version.
Her lawyer sent selected statement marked for settlement purposes, not admissible if talks failed depending rules.
I did not get to use it at trial automatically.
But later, after plea talks collapsed, Reena chose to repeat some admissions in family court treatment plan.
That mattered there.
She wrote:
I used the basement because I could not tolerate Drew following me when I wanted space.
There.
Then:
At first it was five or ten minutes. Later it became longer because locking the door was easier than arguing.
Then:
I told myself they had blankets, toys, and each other.
Then:
I used food as punishment because my mother did that to me.
Explanation.
Not excuse.
Then:
After Aaron died, I was angry that everyone treated him like a good father because he was dead.
Honest.
Then:
I blamed him for things that were not his fault because I wanted the children to believe I was the safe parent.
There.
Central secret admitted emotionally.
Then:
I did not cause every injury. I did ignore injuries because doctors asked questions I did not want to answer.
That was huge.
Then:
Drew’s leg happened when I slammed the basement door while he was on the stairs trying to leave. I did not mean to break it.
There.
If admissible later, assault causation.
But settlement privilege potentially protects. Prosecutors could not use negotiation statements directly depending jurisdiction.
However Reena later made similar statement to court-appointed evaluator outside privileged plea discussion? Let's keep cautious.
The family evaluator asked:
“How did Drew’s leg injury occur?”
Reena:
“I closed the door while he was on the stairs. He fell.”
Not:
He jumped.
That was admissible in family case, potentially discoverable criminally depending privilege/compulsion issues; her criminal lawyer objected to use.
To avoid legal mess, criminal prosecutors rely on independent evidence.
But family court now had stronger basis.
Reena’s supervised visits did not step up.
Then she apologized again to Drew, this time:
“I should have opened the door when you asked.”
He said:
“You broke my leg.”
She froze.
Supervisor waited.
Reena:
“You fell when I closed the door.”
Drew:
“Because you closed it on me.”
She started crying.
No denial.
The supervisor redirected.
No litigation.
Afterward Drew was furious.
“She won’t say it.”
“What?”
“She broke it.”
I said:
“Sometimes adults use different words when they are scared of what words mean.”
He kicked couch cushion.
“Stupid.”
“Yes.”
Then he cried.
I sat.
No lesson.
Then Reena’s mother finally changed.
She met with me.
“I read the family evaluation.”
I waited.
“I was wrong.”
About what?
“About you taking them.”
Good.
Then:
“I still love my daughter.”
“You should.”
“She did things I don’t understand.”
“Me too.”
Then she told me something.
As a child, Reena had been locked in pantry by her own mother? That would make grandmother complicit. She said food punishment came from maternal line. But do we want generational trauma? Could explain. Let's use gently.
“I used to make Reena sit in laundry room when she was bad.”
My stomach tightened.
“Locked?”
“Sometimes.”
She looked ashamed.
“I thought it taught obedience.”
There.
Family history.
No excuse.
Then:
“I never withheld whole meals. But I sent her to bed without dinner.”
Classic older discipline.
She saw difference now.
“I taught her that fear is discipline.”
I did not comfort.
She asked:
“Can I still see kids?”
“Yes, under plan.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Follow it.”
She nodded.
Boundaries.
Then she entered grandparent support/therapy.
Good.
No villain dynasty.
People can learn.
Then Drew’s cast came off.
He stood without it.
First steps.
Physical therapist supported.
He looked terrified.
“Will break?”
“No.”
Bone healed.
He took three steps.
Lily screamed:
“Drew walking!”
Everyone laughed.
He walked to me.
Then immediately sat.
Enough.
The body was healing faster than family.
Trial still coming.
Then Reena accepted one fact publicly in family court:
“I should not have locked my children in the basement.”
That statement was not enough to resolve criminal case because she still disputed duration, intent, leg injury.
But it mattered.
Monica said:
“Accountability is a protective factor.”
I glared.
“It’s not a free pass.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Then the prosecutor renewed plea:
Reena pleads to two counts unlawful confinement and one child neglect.
Assault count dismissed.
Recommended 18 months custody with suspended portion, probation, treatment, no unsupervised contact until family court.
Reena considered.
Then refused because she would not accept felony confinement count for Lily.
She claimed Lily followed Drew voluntarily and she only meant to confine Drew.
Legally, locking a three-year-old in same room can still count if knowing.
May you like
Trial.
Main confrontation moved closer.
