Chapter 16 - Florence refuses to move
I offered my mother a private apartment in another property while cases continued.
She said:
“No.”
“Why?”
“This is my home.”
“Yes.”
“Then stop trying to relocate the injured person.”
She was right.
The east apartment remained hers under occupancy license.
No one could tie it to household labor.
Then she removed every apron from her kitchen.
Not symbolic burning.
She donated unused service aprons to a culinary school? Better not silly. Household staff kept theirs; Florence simply made sure hers was gone.
Then she asked to meet Rachel.
“I should have defended the children sooner.”
Rachel said:
“You were being controlled too.”
Florence did not accept full absolution.
“I still had a telephone.”
“You called Gianluca.”
“He did not answer.”
I stood there.
They both looked at me.
No defense.
Then Florence said:
“I should have called Elena.”
Yes.
She had Elena’s number.
She did not because family pride.
Another failure.
No one person caused everything.
Vanessa designed system.
Others hesitated.
Children experienced result.
Then Florence’s civil mediation.
Bellacourt increased offer.
Vanessa separate.
May you like
Final later.
Not yet.
