Chapter 22 - THE MEETING WITH LUCIENNE
Osric was twenty-one when he chose one mediated meeting.
His decision.
Not mine.
Not court-ordered.
Lucienne was eighty.
Older.
Smaller.
Still perfectly dressed.
First question:
“Why the maid uniform?”
She cried immediately.
“I wanted you to understand your cousin’s role.”
“What role?”
“I believed she would represent the family.”
“And me?”
“Support it.”
“Why?”
Lucienne stared at her hands.
“Because your mother rejected the family structure.”
Osric leaned back.
“So you punished me for Mom.”
“Yes.”
Good.
Ugly.
True.
“Did Grandpa tell you to?”
“No.”
“Did the trust?”
“No.”
“Did you know?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
There.
“Then why?”
“I believed I understood what the family needed better than he did.”
That was Lucienne.
Not confused.
Certain.
Then Osric asked:
“Did you love Cousin more?”
Lucienne looked pained.
“I understood her more.”
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why make me hungry?”
Long silence.
“Because I thought discomfort would make you compliant.”
Osric nodded.
“Okay.”
Not forgiveness.
Information.
Then:
“Do you want to see me again?”
Lucienne cried.
“Yes.”
Osric said:
“I don’t know.”
That was allowed.
They did not hug.
May you like
He left.
No second meeting for three years.
