Chapter 21 - CELESTE’S APOLOGY TO EVA
Her first letter was rejected by Dr. Ward.
Eva,
I’m sorry your daddy and I had a fight.
No.
The harm was not mutual vagueness.
Second:
I’m sorry the locket got broken.
Passive.
No.
Third:
Eva,
I took your locket from you and threw it on the floor.
I also took Mommy’s pictures out of your box.
That was wrong.
The locket and pictures were not mine to take.
You did nothing wrong by loving Mommy or keeping things she gave you.
I was angry about grown-up feelings and I put them on you.
You do not have to see me or answer me.
Better.
Dr. Ward asked Eva:
“Do you want me to read a letter from Celeste?”
“No.”
Two weeks later:
“Yes.”
She listened.
Then asked:
“Celeste wedding?”
“No.”
“Celeste lives here?”
“No.”
“Celeste mad Mommy?”
I answered carefully.
“She had angry and sad feelings about Mommy.”
“Mommy dead.”
“Yes.”
“Why mad?”
Three-year-old logic exposing adult absurdity.
I said:
“Sometimes grown-ups can feel upset about people even when those people aren’t here.”
Eva thought.
“That's silly.”
May you like
“Yes.”
Often.
