Chapter 21 - Vanessa meets Eric
Before Vanessa could see Caleb, Eric insisted on meeting her.
His right as father.
I attended.
Public coffee shop.
Vanessa looked terrified.
Eric was not an intimidating man.
Five-ten.
Glasses.
Works in logistics planning.
The sort of person who keeps receipts in labeled folders.
He sat across from her.
“You hit my son.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa gave the answer she had learned not to decorate.
“I was angry at Rachel and at the vase. Caleb became the person I punished.”
Eric nodded.
“Do you think corporal punishment is acceptable?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
Vanessa paused.
“I think parents have different views. I know I had no authority to hit Caleb, and I know striking his face in anger was wrong regardless.”
Good.
Eric asked:
“Do you blame Rachel for kicking you?”
“No.”
That surprised me.
Vanessa continued:
“I think she reacted to me hitting her son.”
Eric looked at me.
“Rachel and I have discussed her reaction separately.”
No absolution.
Good.
Then:
“Do you expect to see Caleb?”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
Vanessa looked down.
“I want him to know he does not owe me forty-three dollars.”
Eric’s face softened for the first time.
“Good.”
May you like
That meeting cleared nothing automatically.
But it made supervised contact possible if Caleb wanted.
