Chapter 12 - BROOKE WROTE TO MEEight months after she left Crestwood, I received a letter.
At first, I didn’t want to open it.
Then I did.
Brooke wrote:
I hated you before I knew who your father was.
Promising start.
Then:
When everyone found out, I hated you more because I thought you had tricked me.
I frowned.
Tricked her by existing privately?
She continued.
It took me a long time to understand that I was angry because I treated you differently when I thought you were poor.
There it was.
Then:
If I had respected you only after learning your father was principal, I would still be the same person.
Good.
She admitted the bucket.
The rumors.
Ava.
The complaints.
Then:
My father protected me so often that I started believing consequences were things our family could negotiate.
That sounded familiar.
She ended:
I don’t expect forgiveness.
I didn’t answer.
Not then.
Three months later, I sent four words.
I hope you change.
She replied:
May you like
I’m trying.
That was enough.
