Chapter 21 - Genevieve's Letter
Two years after the boutique incident, Genevieve asked to send Winnie a letter.
No direct contact before then except supervised family events? Better none. After no-contact period and therapy, she had seen Winnie only twice at large family settings from distance.
Dr. Patel reviewed.
I reviewed.
Winnie was six.
She chose to hear it.
Genevieve wrote:
Winnie,
I threw your new school shoes in the trash.
Direct.
I also took back other clothes and shoes that were bought for you.
There.
Some of the money connected to those purchases stayed in my store when it should not have.
There.
Then:
I told myself I was teaching you not to be spoiled.
I was really angry about my business, your dad, and things I felt about your mom.
There.
None of those were your responsibility.
Good.
Then:
I called you a charity case.
There.
You were never a charity case.
And even children who do receive charity deserve good shoes.
That line mattered.
Not:
You deserve because wealthy.
Everyone deserves dignity.
Then:
I also used your mother’s name to justify choices she did not make.
There.
I am sorry.
No request to forgive.
No:
Can I see you?
Winnie listened.
Then asked:
“Does Aunt Genevieve still have store?”
“No.”
“Because me?”
Important.
“No. The store was already being sold before that day.”
“Because she bad?”
“No. Because business had money problems.”
“Did shoes make?”
“No.”
She relaxed.
Children invent causal responsibility easily.
Then:
“Can keep letter?”
“Yes.”
She folded it.
Put inside desk drawer.
Months later it disappeared.
We found it under craft paper.
No shrine.
May you like
Good.
────────────────────
