Chapter 7 - Celina’s Version

Celina hired a lawyer.
Then sent a statement through him.
She claimed:
Sofia had indeed chosen her.
Not as mother.
Not as guardian.
Not as wife.
As:
“an independent stabilizing influence around Victor’s daughter.”
I laughed when I read that.
My lawyer did not.
“Where did she get that phrase?”
We searched the Halloran report.
There it was.
But again:
Context.
One internal planning memorandum said:
Consider whether any independent stabilizing influences could be identified around Ellie if primary family relationships become overly insular.
Generic.
No names.
Celina had combined that sentence with:
C-17 selected for enhanced review.
May you like
Two unrelated lines.
One personalized fiction.