Chapter 11 - I Faced Consequences For Hitting Maeve
Maeve did not file a criminal complaint.
That was her choice.
It did not mean there were no consequences.
Our household management company documented the incident.
I paid her remaining contract compensation and an additional negotiated employment settlement through counsel.
Not hush money.
There was no confidentiality clause regarding the slap.
Maeve insisted on that.
She also required that any reference I provided be based solely on her job performance.
I gave her the strongest reference I had ever written for anyone.
Because it was true.
Later, my therapist asked:
“Were you grateful she didn’t involve police?”
“Yes.”
“Did relief make you minimize what happened?”
I thought.
“Probably.”
“Then say it plainly.”
I hated the exercise.
“I assaulted an employee.”
“Again.”
“I assaulted an employee who was holding my crying child.”
That was worse.
Good.
It needed to be.
I had spent weeks wanting context to soften it.
Jealousy.
Custody stress.
Alcohol.
Fear of losing my son.
None altered the motion of my hand.
Explanation has value.
Excuse does not.
Orson eventually learned that I had apologized to Maeve and accepted consequences.
His therapist believed that mattered.
Children should not see adults harm people and then watch status erase accountability.
I needed my son to understand that fathers are not exempt.
Employers are not exempt.
May you like
Rich men in large houses are not exempt.
Neither are people who are sorry.
