Chapter 14 - The Photograph
Police searching only in connection with the assault did not automatically seize Celina’s life.
But later civil discovery and subpoenas around the Halloran confidentiality breach produced relevant communications.
One photograph appeared repeatedly.
Sofia.
Pregnant with Ellie.
At a charity dinner.
Celina had saved it.
Then cropped herself into a later collage-style planning board beside Sofia.
Not a fake photograph intended for public deception.
A private mood board.
Words around it:
Continuity.
Grace.
Structure.
Next woman.
That phrase disturbed me.
Not:
next wife.
Next woman.
Celina was not romantically obsessed with me.
She was obsessed with role.
Position.
A vacancy.
Sofia’s death had created a space in the social system around our family.
May you like
Celina believed somebody had to occupy it.
Why not her?
