Chapter 21 - Victoria’s first apology
My mother waited eleven months.
Then sent:
I’m sorry this family has suffered so much.
No.
Second:
I’m sorry Arthur reacted too strongly.
Arthur’s apology.
Not hers.
Third, after eighteen months of family therapy without me:
I’m sorry I stepped between you and Arthur instead of checking Gigi.
I stopped reading.
Then continued.
I saw the mark on her face. I heard her crying. I still looked first at what your anger was doing to the party.
There.
I told myself I was preventing a bigger scene. In reality, I was protecting Arthur from immediate consequences.
Yes.
Then:
I had asked Arthur before to help manage Gigi when I thought you were too permissive. I never told him to hit her, but I helped create the idea that he had authority over her.
That mattered.
Finally:
When you kicked me, I used your bad act to avoid dealing with his worse one.
I put the letter down.
That was the first time my mother had separated the verbs.
I replied:
I received your letter. Thank you for being specific.
May you like
No visit.
Not yet.
