Chapter 19 - Why Lily frightened Vanessa
The money was not the only issue.
Lily had become harder for Vanessa to manage.
Because Lily could communicate directly with me.
Vanessa had initially learned sign to join our family.
Then she discovered something she disliked.
Lily corrected her.
Constantly.
Vanessa could not easily say:
“She means this.”
because Lily could sign:
“No. I mean that.”
So Vanessa began subtly undermining my confidence.
“She signs differently at school.”
“You misunderstand her grammar.”
“She tells you what you want because you’re Dad.”
Sometimes true.
Often manipulative.
Then Vanessa began telling Lily the reverse:
“Daddy doesn’t understand everything.”
That placed Vanessa in the middle.
Interpreter.
Authority.
Gatekeeper.
Except I was never deaf.
And Lily knew exactly what she saw.
That was why her first frantic sentence mattered so much.
“You’re not deaf.”
May you like
Meaning:
Do not let her speak for me.
