Chapter 10 - Caroline withdraws the videos
Caroline and I met at Rebecca’s office.
No Thomas.
No Morwenna.
Just parents and lawyers.
Caroline looked exhausted.
“I’m withdrawing the videos from my relocation evidence.”
“Good.”
“And any summary relying on them.”
“Good.”
She glared.
“You don’t have to enjoy this.”
“I’m not.”
“Looks like it.”
I leaned back.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were filing?”
“I was going to after Rachel had the petition ready.”
“You told my mother first.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought she would support me.”
There.
Not legal strategy.
Emotional alliance.
“You wanted my mother to tell you taking Odelia away from me was okay.”
Caroline’s eyes filled.
“I wanted someone who knows you to tell me I wasn’t destroying you.”
That stopped me.
Because divorce creates guilt even when the marriage needs to end.
Caroline continued:
“You love Odelia more than anything.”
“Yes.”
“I knew relocation would devastate you.”
“Yes.”
“And Morwenna said you would adapt.”
I almost laughed.
“My mother does not get to volunteer me for adaptation.”
“I know that now.”
Then:
“She also told me Odelia was miserable.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Some.”
“Because you wanted to.”
Caroline looked at me.
“Yes.”
There.
Her failure.
Not creating videos.
Confirmation.
She wanted evidence that relocation solved a problem rather than caused a new one.
Morwenna supplied it.
May you like
Caroline did not inspect closely enough.
Different responsibility.
