Chapter 13 - Arthur’s counterattack
Arthur’s attorney filed notice that if I pursued civil claims on Gigi’s behalf, Victoria would pursue civil damages against me.
Fine.
Then Arthur went farther.
He alleged I had:
“Created a pattern of alienating the child from maternal relatives.”
Maternal?
They were my relatives.
Still.
He claimed I was emotionally unstable.
Evidence?
The kick.
Old family messages where I argued with Victoria.
One text from five years earlier:
I am done with all of you.
I had returned for Thanksgiving three weeks later.
Family drama is a terrible archive.
Arthur also said I encouraged Gigi to accuse him.
The child interview did not support that.
Neither did the video.
Still, the allegation hurt.
Because I had talked too much around Gigi after the party.
Not about details.
But she heard me tell Noah:
“He hit a baby.”
She heard me say:
“Arthur is dangerous.”
Her therapist later advised:
“Use behavior-specific language around her.”
So I changed.
Not:
Arthur is a monster.
Instead:
“Arthur hit you. Adults are not allowed to hit you.”
May you like
Specific.
Children should not have to inherit permanent labels before they understand what happened.
