Chapter 14 - My parents blame me too
My father, Richard Carter, believed the wedding should remain canceled.
My mother, Joanne, believed we should:
“slow down before making permanent decisions.”
That infuriated Maria.
“Mom, she smashed cake on Lily.”
“I know.”
“Then what are we slowing down?”
“Adults make mistakes.”
“So do murderers.”
“Maria.”
“No one murdered anyone,” I said.
Maria glared.
“Stop being reasonable.”
Interesting role reversal.
Mom looked at me.
“You loved Vanessa last week.”
“I did.”
“You still may.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“Love is not the only criterion.”
My father nodded.
Mom hated that.
“She was jealous.”
“Yes.”
“She needs help.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t abandon someone because they need help.”
I stared.
“No.”
This was important.
“You also don’t marry someone because leaving would feel like abandonment.”
Mom went quiet.
Vanessa could receive help without being my wife.
I had confused those things before.
After Natalie died, I became hypersensitive to leaving people in pain.
Vanessa’s tears triggered:
Stay.
Fix.
Reassure.
That was part of why we got engaged when some issues remained unresolved.
I wanted to prove I could build a life after death.
May you like
Vanessa wanted to prove she could be the primary woman in that life.
Those goals looked compatible until Lily became the measure.
