Chapter 16 - MY MOTHER-IN-LAWMark’s mother, Joanne, called me.
“You are destroying him.”
I almost hung up.
Then listened.
“He would never hurt Sophie.”
“He restrained her.”
“He parented her.”
“He gave her diphenhydramine without telling me.”
“It’s Benadryl, Erin.”
As though over-the-counter meant consequence-free.
“Joanne, he used it to make her sleepy.”
“She slept.”
“That is not the point.”
“You always thought you were the only person qualified to raise her because you’re a counselor.”
There it was.
I worked as a school counselor.
Mark hated when he believed I used professional language against him.
“I am not Sophie’s therapist.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you read trauma into everything.”
I almost shouted.
Then stopped.
This conversation was useless.
I said:
“Did you know about the baths?”
Silence.
“Joanne?”
“He said you two disagreed.”
“Did he tell you about the medicine?”
Another silence.
“He asked me once what we used when he couldn’t sleep as a child.”
My stomach turned.
“What did you tell him?”
“Benadryl sometimes.”
“How old?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Did you tell him to give it to Sophie?”
“No.”
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That mattered.
Even Joanne refused that responsibility.
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