Chapter 24 - Marjorie and Me
We met alone after probation ended.
Public restaurant.
Daytime.
No Ione.
Marjorie looked older.
Still polished.
She said:
“Do you hate me?”
“Sometimes.”
She nodded.
Then:
“I hated what Celeste did to you.”
That surprised me.
“What?”
“She made you soft.”
I almost stood.
Marjorie raised hand.
“Listen.”
I stayed.
“She was warm. You became warmer. When she died, I watched you become terrified that firmness would hurt Ione.”
Partly true.
“I thought somebody had to restore balance.”
“And you chose yourself.”
“Yes.”
There.
“Did you resent Celeste?”
Marjorie took a long time.
“Yes.”
Why?
Celeste had challenged Duvall rules.
No assigned seating.
No formal Sunday lunches every week.
No asking grandparents’ permission for parenting decisions.
Celeste loved Marjorie but did not defer.
After she died, Marjorie expected the old family hierarchy to return.
Instead I became even more protective of Ione.
Marjorie saw herself losing influence.
Again.
Her discipline crusade was partly about values.
Partly about authority.
At least she admitted.
Then I apologized for the slap.
“I hit you after Ione was already behind me.”
“You were furious.”
“Yes.”
“Do you regret?”
“Yes.”
“Would you protect her again?”
“Absolutely.”
She nodded.
No contradiction.
Protective action and retaliatory action can coexist in same minute.
May you like
Adults can separate them later.
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