Chapter 6 - The Phrase “Choose Her”
Octavia’s exact words bothered me more than the cake.
Choose her, and I’ll leave.
Not:
If you keep treating me like this, I’ll leave.
Not:
If you hit me again.
She should have left for that alone.
But her wording put Juniper in the other position.
Choose her.
A daughter.
My daughter.
There should have been no category where a fiancée competed.
My therapist, Dr. Samuel Reed, asked:
“Are you sure she meant Juniper?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She looked at her.”
“Could she have meant Juniper’s side in the conflict?”
I hated nuance.
“Maybe.”
“Ask through therapy or counsel if appropriate.”
No.
I did not want relationship therapy after the slap.
But Octavia requested one closure session.
I agreed.
Neutral office.
No reconciliation.
Dr. Reed present.
Octavia sat across from me.
Cheek healed.
No ring.
She said:
“You humiliated me.”
“Yes.”
“You hit me.”
“Yes.”
“You removed my ring like I was property.”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand that?”
“Yes.”
Her anger faltered because I did not argue.
Then I asked:
“What did you mean by choose her?”
Octavia looked down.
“Exactly what you think.”
“I want you to say it.”
She exhaled.
“I meant that I am tired of being second to Juniper.”
There.
Dr. Reed asked:
“In what sense?”
“In every sense.”
“Give examples.”
“She interrupts dinner and he stops.”
“She is seven.”
Octavia continued:
“She changes plans.”
“Sometimes.”
“She refuses events and suddenly we don’t go.”
“After her mother died.”
“There. Always that.”
My jaw tightened.
Dr. Reed intervened.
“Octavia, are you saying Juniper’s grief receives too much decision-making power?”
“Yes.”
That was more specific.
Then:
“Do you feel Matthias parents from guilt?”
“Yes.”
I looked at her.
“Sometimes,” she added.
Could be true.
Then:
“What did the cake have to do with it?”
Octavia stared at the carpet.
“Hadley thought Juniper needed to learn not everyone would treat her like glass.”
My skin went cold.
“Hadley thought?”
Silence.
“Or you told her?”
Octavia looked up.
May you like
That was the first crack.
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