Chapter 4 - The punishment note
I received a photograph of the note two days later through my attorney.
Victoria’s handwriting.
Blue ink.
Large enough to read from a few feet away.
It said:
Thirty minutes. No phone. No leaving.
When you are ready to apologize to Arthur and agree that the baby stays here through the first six weeks, we can discuss opening the door.
Then below:
You do not get to use pregnancy as permission to disrespect this family.
No signature.
She did not need one.
Rachel had birthday cards with identical handwriting.
So did I.
The phrase thirty minutes became central.
Victoria later said she never intended to leave me alone for thirty minutes.
She intended to return sooner.
Then why write it?
May you like
She said the note was “rhetorical.”
A rhetorical padlock is still a padlock.
