Chapter 24 - Verena’s Last Apology
Verena was sixty-two when she requested one mediated meeting with Odessa.
Odessa was thirty-two.
She said yes.
I did not attend.
She told me later.
First question:
“Why did you say I was unwanted?”
Verena answered:
“Because I knew your mother’s death made you afraid of abandonment.”
“Did Dad tell you that?”
“Yes.”
“Did you love him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why use something he trusted you with?”
Verena cried.
“Because I wanted to win.”
“Win what?”
“Importance.”
There.
Not money alone.
Not Mason.
Not company shares.
Importance.
Verena had entered a house where Claire’s memory lived everywhere.
Trust.
Company.
Daughter.
Friends.
Stories.
She believed the only way to matter was to reduce Claire’s child.
Odessa asked:
“Did you hate me?”
“No.”
“That’s worse.”
Verena looked confused.
Odessa explained:
“If you hated me, maybe you were just cruel to someone you hated. You say you didn’t hate me. So you hurt me because it was useful.”
Verena had no answer.
Meeting lasted thirty-six minutes.
No hug.
Odessa allowed no further meetings.
Birthday cards only.
May you like
Eventually not even those.
Enough.
