Chapter 18 - THE FAMILY COUNCIL I CANCELED
Vivienne’s lawyer requested a private family meeting before trial.
Purpose:
Settlement of noncriminal issues.
No.
Then three older relatives asked for a DeLuca council.
They wanted:
Avoid publicity.
Protect the surname.
Resolve “the infant matter” privately.
I invited them to my study.
Then canceled before they arrived.
Why?
Because there was no infant matter left for a family council.
Matteo was our son.
Vivienne’s criminal case belonged to the state.
Bianca’s relationship with Elena belonged to them.
Hospital reform belonged to St. Vincent.
Dominic’s fear belonged in therapy.
Nothing useful remained for old men around a table to decide.
That was harder than ordering people into a room.
My entire life had trained me to believe control meant convening the right people.
Sometimes control means refusing the meeting.
I sent one message:
There will be no family vote regarding Elena’s children, Vivienne’s case, or Bianca’s access. Those matters are governed by the parents, law, and professional recommendations.
One uncle replied:
Your father would never have allowed police to turn family business public.
Maybe.
My father was dead.
May you like
And my children were alive.
That was enough.
