Chapter 15 - My parents see Ruby again
Six months after sentencing, Dr. Grant recommended one therapeutic visit with Diane.
Not Walter yet.
Ruby said yes.
Neutral child-therapy center.
Thirty minutes.
I sat nearby.
Diane entered without gifts.
Ruby looked at her.
Then at the door.
“Grandpa?”
“No.”
“Aunt Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Diane sat.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Ruby touched her bandaged? By now no bandage, protective glasses. Let's maintain.
Ruby wore protective glasses.
Her left eye looked slightly different.
Diane saw.
Started crying.
Dr. Grant immediately said:
“Diane, Ruby is not responsible for helping you feel better.”
My mother wiped her face.
“I’m sorry.”
Ruby asked:
“Why you delete?”
Direct.
Diane answered:
“Because I was scared the video would get Aunt Vanessa in trouble.”
“Was she bad?”
“She hurt you.”
“Why say I slipped?”
“Because I was trying to protect Aunt Vanessa.”
Ruby thought.
“Not me?”
My mother broke.
“No.”
There.
Then:
“Bad Grandma.”
Diane nodded.
“Yes. I made a very bad choice.”
No argument.
Visit ended twenty-two minutes in when Ruby wanted to go.
Diane did not ask for five more minutes.
Good.
Then Walter’s evaluation.
He still had more work.
He blamed Vanessa for pulling everyone in.
Dr. Grant wrote:
“Walter demonstrates factual accountability but continues to externalize moral responsibility.”
Meaning:
He admitted acts.
Still thought Vanessa created the whole problem.
Maybe.
But he had signed.
Stayed quiet.
Protected.
Then a separate issue.
My parents’ marriage.
They separated.
Diane moved to a townhouse.
Walter kept main house temporarily.
Lake house sold voluntarily after lien release.
Why sell?
Neither wanted it anymore.
Sale price:
$1.08 million.
Net proceeds divided according to ownership/marital arrangements.
No forced loss.
Diane used part of hers to fund Ruby’s medical account contribution.
Walter did too.
Then Vanessa from prison sent Diane letters.
My mother did not show me.
Good.
Their relationship was theirs.
Then Ruby asked about Vanessa.
“Where Aunt Vanessa?”
“In prison.”
“Because she pushed?”
“Partly. And because she lied about money.”
“Can she see me?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer was honest.
Then civil mediation.
Vanessa’s insurer and personal counsel offered $160,000 total from available covered theories and personal contribution.
Our expert estimated future unreimbursed vision-related costs could exceed that depending treatments.
We countered $300,000.
Mediation stalled.
Then Colin offered $50,000 personally toward settlement despite no civil admission of causing injury.
Why?
Guilt.
Family.
His company benefited from the financial scheme.
Would accepting create release for him?
Only if defined.
We negotiated.
Total package eventually reached $240,000:
Insurer contribution.
Vanessa personal judgment/payment plan.
Colin voluntary contribution.
No release of criminal findings.
Funds placed in protected account for Ruby.
I signed as guardian with court approval.
Not enough to buy an eye.
Enough to fund care.
Then Walter finally asked to see Ruby.
Ruby said:
“Grandpa said lie.”
She remembered.
Dr. Grant recommended waiting.
May you like
Walter accepted.
That acceptance was the first useful thing he had done in months.
