Chapter 9 - CARMINE’S SLAP BECAME PART OF THE INVESTIGATION TOOCarmine did not hide it.
He told police:
“I struck Helena once in the garage.”
His lawyer advised him carefully.
He still admitted it.
Because Leo saw it.
And Carmine refused to teach his son that violence becomes invisible when the powerful person uses it.
No charges were ultimately pursued after the full circumstances were reviewed and Helena declined a complaint, but Carmine did not frame that as vindication.
He entered counseling.
Anger management.
Not because he thought himself equivalent to Helena.
Because one wrong does not erase another.
When Leo later asked:
“Daddy hit Helena because she was bad?”
Carmine answered:
“No.”
Leo frowned.
“She hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“But you said hitting is bad.”
“Yes.”
“So why?”
Carmine swallowed.
“Because I was very angry and made a bad choice.”
Leo thought.
“Daddy bad?”
“No. Daddy did something wrong.”
Important distinction.
Behavior.
Identity.
Accountability.
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Carmine wanted his son to learn that even fathers admit mistakes.
Especially fathers.
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