Chapter 14 - The boarding-school brochure
We found brochures for Hawthorne Academy, a residential school with strong accessibility support.
Important:
Hawthorne was legitimate.
Well regarded.
Not an institution for unwanted children.
It served both disabled and nondisabled students.
Veronica had contacted admissions.
Without my knowledge.
She asked about:
Weekly boarding.
Full-term residence.
Accessibility services.
Transport.
Family visitation.
The school replied:
A parent or legal guardian must initiate any application. We cannot evaluate placement based solely on a prospective stepparent inquiry.
Good.
Veronica did not have an application.
Did not forge my name.
But she had researched sending Mina away during the week.
Why?
Her email to Greta:
If she boards, household life becomes manageable and A stops making every decision around her routines.
Greta replied:
Do not discuss this until after marriage.
That message changed everything for me.
Not criminal.
May you like
But clear.
The wedding had become a timing mechanism.
