Chapter 15 - VIOLETTA’S FIRST APOLOGY
The first apology failed.
It came through counsel.
Primrose,
I am sorry the vase breaking upset all of us and that the evening became frightening.
No.
The evening did not become frightening by weather.
Then:
I loved your grandmother very much, and the vase was one of the last beautiful things we had from her.
Worse.
It turned the object into cause again.
Then:
I should have handled my emotions differently.
Weak.
Paige recommended we not give it to Primrose.
I agreed.
Violetta was furious.
“She deserves to know I apologized.”
Samuel told her:
“An apology is not a delivery receipt.”
Good.
Weeks later, Violetta wrote again.
Primrose,
I hit you because I was angry that the vase broke.
You did not deserve to be hit.
Breaking the vase by accident did not make you bad.
I said you ruin everything. That was cruel and untrue.
You do not have to forgive me or see me.
Better.
Then a separate line:
Your father should not have hit me either, but that is not your responsibility.
Also true.
Paige let Primrose choose.
She read it.
Slowly.
Then:
“Does she want new vase?”
“No.”
“Can she buy?”
“She could buy a different vase. Not the same one.”
Primrose thought.
“Good.”
“Why?”
“So she knows broken stays broken.”
Five years old.
Then:
“Can people fix?”
I answered carefully.
“Some things. Some relationships. Not exactly back to before.”
She folded the letter.
“Not yet.”
“Not yet what?”
May you like
“See her.”
Okay.
