Chapter 14 - Michael writes the wrong apology
Michael requested permission to send Emily one letter.
Court allowed submission to therapist for screening.
No guarantee delivery.
Letter began:
Emily, I am sorry that what happened in the kitchen led to you being hurt.
Dr. Morris stopped reading aloud.
Emily said:
“No.”
I understood.
Passive voice.
What happened.
Led to.
Then:
I was trying to stop an argument from getting worse.
Worse.
Then:
I made the wrong medical judgment afterward.
True.
But incomplete.
Then:
I never wanted you afraid of me.
Emily said:
“He still isn’t saying it.”
“What?”
“That he pushed me.”
The therapist returned letter undelivered with clinical note:
Not appropriate for therapeutic contact at this stage because it minimized disputed core conduct.
Michael’s lawyer complained.
Then Michael wrote a second.
I pushed you. You hit the island because I pushed you. I should not have done that.
Emily read further.
I knew the clinic wanted an ER evaluation and I took you home. I told myself you were okay because I was afraid your mom would find out how you got hurt.
Emily started crying.
Then:
That was me protecting myself instead of protecting you.
There.
She finished.
No request for forgiveness.
No:
But you shoved me first.
No:
But you called me names.
Then:
I am following the court order. I will not contact you again unless you ask or the court and your therapist say it is appropriate.
Emily folded it.
“Do you want to answer?”
“No.”
Then later:
“Can I keep it?”
“Yes.”
She put it in desk drawer.
That letter changed family court more than his first therapy certificate.
Behavior + specific accountability.
Still no contact.
Then criminal plea negotiations.
Prosecutor offered:
Plea to felony child-endangering count based on withholding care plus misdemeanor assault.
Dismiss higher assault theory requiring proof of serious-harm intent.
Recommended sentence:
Local custody or short prison term depending judge, probation, no contact pending family court.
Michael refused.
Why?
Felony conviction.
Career.
He wanted misdemeanor child endangering and assault.
Prosecutor refused.
Trial remained.
Then Michael’s employer terminated him.
Not because accusation alone?
Policy allowed after indictment and prolonged inability to perform; company conducted review and eliminated his position/replaced. Severance limited.
He found consulting work later? Not yet.
This increased financial pressure.
He asked court to sell house sooner.
I agreed.
Emily did not want to return.
We listed.
Offer:
$620,000.
Closing scheduled after trial start.
Practical life continued.
Then Michael’s criminal lawyer filed motion to exclude Jenna’s “dad shoved me” text as hearsay.
Prosecutor argued admissible under relevant exceptions/for state of mind and corroboration.
Judge allowed limited portions depending trial context.
Not every text automatically evidence.
Then trial date.
May you like
Six weeks away.
Active.
