Chapter 9 - Why Ellie?
Celina entered our social circle eighteen months after Sofia’s death.
Slowly.
A fundraiser.
A museum committee.
A hospital gala.
She knew people I knew.
Never asked for access directly.
That was the elegant part.
Other people began mentioning her.
“Celina could help with the children’s initiative.”
“Celina knows donors.”
“Celina is excellent with protocol.”
Eventually she came to the house.
Ellie disliked her almost immediately.
Children sometimes dislike perfectly decent adults for no reason.
So I ignored it.
That was a mistake only in hindsight.
Celina constantly corrected her.
“Sit straight.”
“Say thank you properly.”
“Don’t interrupt adults.”
Some of that sounded ordinary.
Then:
“A Moretti girl should know how to behave.”
That sentence irritated me.
I told her:
“She’s eight.”
Celina smiled.
“Exactly when standards matter.”
May you like
I thought she was pretentious.
I did not yet understand she believed herself authorized.
