Chapter 17 - HELENA’S FIRST APOLOGY
Helena sent a letter through counsel.
Celeste agreed to review it with Naomi.
I did not read it first.
Another lesson.
It began:
I am sorry the afternoon became frightening.
Bad.
Then:
My intention was to protect the child from instability.
Worse.
Then:
Celeste has never understood the responsibility attached to becoming Damian’s wife.
Naomi stopped reading aloud.
Celeste said:
“Continue.”
Then:
Marina has sacrificed decades to this family and deserved a defined role.
Deserved.
Again.
Then:
I admit I handled the documents improperly.
Improperly.
Not forged.
Then:
I should not have poured the water.
At least.
Then:
Damian striking his own mother proves the emotional volatility I feared would surround the child.
I laughed once.
Couldn’t help it.
Naomi looked at me.
“She has one fact.”
I stopped.
My slap did prove volatility in that room.
It did not validate her scheme.
Both could be true.
Celeste folded the letter.
“No response.”
Good.
Then Helena’s attorney asked whether she could send a second.
“No.”
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Also good.
Apology is not a right to repeated access.
