Chapter 13 - FOUR YEARS LATER
I saw Vanessa at a conference hotel. She saw me first. Neither could escape politely.
So we had coffee. She had married no one. Julian had married no one.
They ended six weeks after airport. Why? “He lied to me too.”
About divorce. Money. House.
Margaret. Everything. Then she said: “I used to hate you.”
“Why?” “Because if you were stupid, then I wasn’t doing anything terrible.” There.
She needed caricature. Then: “You weren’t stupid.” I laughed.
“I missed a lot.” “Different.” Then she apologized again for airport.
For “pack your shit.” I said: “That line was almost useful.” Why?
It forced me to see contempt. Then she asked if I hated her. “No.”
Did I forgive? Mostly irrelevant. Then she told me Julian was doing better.
How know? Industry. He had closed Carter Development Advisory after repayment.
Now worked salaried at infrastructure firm. No more personal development deals. Then Martin Vale.
Bar discipline resulted in suspension, not permanent disbarment. He later retired. Paul Reddick lost notary commission and received professional discipline.
No prison. Again. Then Margaret.
She and I developed relationship. Not mother substitute. Aunt.
We argued. She sometimes overstepped. I told her.
She adjusted. Then Dad’s estate. I read every letter eventually.
May you like
He loved me. He also judged me. He regretted.
Human. Then one letter contained sentence: If Elena ever learns to distinguish being protected from being controlled, she will be freer than I was. I hated that he was right after death. Then smiled.
