Chapter 12 - CLAIRE’S APOLOGY TO ETHAN WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HER APOLOGY TO MEHer first version:
I’m sorry I put you in a difficult situation.
No.
Later:
Ethan, I told you a frightened child was hidden in our house and made you believe keeping that secret was your responsibility.
Yes.
I told you Dad might send Sophie away, even though I had no reason to say that.
Good.
I made you responsible for feeding her when adults should have been responsible for her safety.
Exactly.
Then:
You did not betray me by telling Dad.
Ethan cried when the therapist read that aloud months later.
He had believed he betrayed his mother.
That broke me.
Then he asked:
“Can I still love her?”
“Yes.”
May you like
Always.
Children do not need to hate one parent to prove loyalty to the other.
