Chapter 17 - REBECCA’S LETTER
Lily was five when she asked about Rebecca again.
“Does Aunt Becca still love me?”
I hated the question.
Not because I doubted.
Because love had become too convenient a word in our family.
“I think she does.”
“Then why hit?”
“Love doesn’t automatically make someone safe.”
She frowned.
“Can she be safe later?”
“Maybe.”
That was the right answer.
Rebecca had completed treatment.
Maintained probation.
Paid restitution.
Taken an ordinary job outside Reed Industrial.
No consulting role.
No family bailout.
She sold part of her Reed proceeds to clear debt instead of having Robert erase it.
Good.
She sent yearly letters to my lawyer.
No pressure.
No request to Lily.
At five, with therapist guidance, I read one first.
Rebecca wrote:
I hurt you because I was afraid of losing money and afraid of saying no to Grandpa. Neither fear gave me permission to touch you.
Good.
Then:
You did not cause the argument. You did not cause your daddy’s anger. You did not cause anything that happened in that room.
Better.
I asked Lily:
“Do you want to hear a letter from Aunt Rebecca?”
“No.”
I put it away.
That was enough.
At six she said:
“Maybe.”
May you like
Her timeline.
Not Rebecca’s.
