Chapter 11 - Nora Finally Admitted Her Own Fear
Nora carried guilt too.
One evening after therapy, she told Landon she had suspected Camille earlier than she admitted.
“How much earlier?”
“Maybe two months.”
Landon stared.
“And you said nothing?”
“I noticed things. I didn’t know.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Nora accepted the anger.
She deserved some of it.
She had seen Camille insist on preparing drinks personally despite staff being available.
Seen Landon unusually sedated afterward.
Seen Camille discourage progress.
But Nora was an employee.
Camille was the fiancée.
Nora feared that if she accused Camille without proof, Landon would fire her and become even more isolated.
“So you waited.”
“Yes.”
“Too long.”
“Yes.”
No excuses.
That helped.
Then Nora explained why she finally changed course.
One morning Landon had managed to stand at the bathroom counter alone for twelve seconds.
He was ecstatic.
Camille entered.
Instead of congratulating him, she said:
“Don’t tell your doctor yet. You’ll only create expectations.”
Nora saw Landon’s face fall.
Later that afternoon, Camille prepared his drink two hours earlier than usual.
That was when Nora started the notebook.
“I realized I was more afraid of being wrong than I was afraid of what happened if I was right.”
Landon understood that sentence.
He had lived five years of his own version of it.
They sat quietly.
Then Landon said:
“You should’ve told me sooner.”
“I know.”
“And I’m glad you eventually did.”
Nora nodded.
No dramatic forgiveness needed.
Trust could hold both truths.
That conversation changed their relationship too.
Not romantic.
Not savior and victim.
Adult to adult.
Nora’s job was to support Landon’s autonomy, not replace Camille as the next indispensable person.
When Landon began doing more for himself, Nora celebrated reductions in her own role.
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That difference became one of the clearest definitions of healthy care he had ever learned.
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