Chapter 12 - MY PARENTS ADMITTED THEY ALMOST AGREEDThis part hurt.
My parents, Robert and Elaine Hartwell, had known Vanessa was unhappy about Ava’s role in the wedding.
Not the clippers.
Not the trust scheme.
But they knew Vanessa wanted Ava to spend more time with them after marriage.
My mother said:
“She told us you two needed space to build your relationship.”
“And you agreed?”
“We thought weekends.”
“What about boarding school?”
My father looked away.
There.
Vanessa had floated the idea.
A private school in Vermont.
Ava was seven.
I stared.
“You didn’t tell me.”
“We assumed she had.”
Again.
Assumption as protection.
My parents apologized.
Not:
We were just trying to help.
Instead:
“We should have asked you directly.”
Yes.
Then my father added:
“We liked Vanessa and interpreted warning signs generously.”
May you like
That was honest.
So had I.
