Chapter 10 - Millicent’s explanation
We met in a therapist’s office six weeks after the playground.
My criminal case over the shove was still unresolved.
Her charges had not yet been resolved either.
Lawyers approved the meeting conditions.
Dr. Helen Ward facilitated.
Millicent looked composed.
Pearls.
Cream blouse.
No mud.
She began:
“I’m sorry you were frightened.”
“No.”
Helen waited.
Millicent’s jaw tightened.
“I’m sorry I took Silas’s belongings without telling you.”
Better.
“And?”
“I’m sorry I scheduled North Ridge without completing the conversation with you.”
I almost laughed.
“Completing?”
She knew.
Helen asked:
“Did Gideon know you had contacted North Ridge?”
“No.”
“Did he know an intake had been scheduled?”
“No.”
“Did he execute the parental consent?”
Millicent looked at me.
“No.”
“Did you submit a document containing his signature?”
“Yes.”
There.
“Where did the signature come from?”
“A school form.”
“Did Gideon authorize you to copy it?”
“No.”
No drama.
Four nos.
The structure collapsed.
Then Millicent said:
“But I was trying to help.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Helen asked:
“What did you believe Silas needed?”
“Separation from Gideon.”
My stomach twisted.
“Why?”
“Because he is six years old and behaves like his father might disappear every time Gideon leaves the room.”
“He watched his mother disappear in three days.”
“I know.”
“So?”
“So two years later he still controls every adult around him with fear.”
I leaned forward.
“He was improving.”
“You call it improving because you rearrange everything to avoid distress.”
“That is not what his therapist says.”
“His therapist sees him forty-five minutes a week.”
There.
Millicent believed expertise belonged to whoever had endured the most inconvenience.
“I picked him up. I dealt with the screaming. The refusing food. The questions every five minutes.”
“Then you could have stopped babysitting.”
She stared.
“I would never abandon him.”
“But you would send him away.”
Her face changed.
“That is not fair.”
“No?”
“North Ridge is treatment.”
“Treatment I did not consent to.”
“Because you would say no.”
Helen raised a hand.
“And that is the point we need to stay with.”
May you like
Millicent looked away.
She knew.
