Chapter 14 - REBECCA’S FIRST REAL APOLOGY
Rebecca apologized many times.
Most were useless.
“I never meant for this to happen.”
“I was scared.”
“I thought I could fix it.”
“I didn’t know Grant would threaten you.”
Josephine listened without reacting.
Then, almost a year later, Rebecca finally said something different.
They were sitting in a therapist’s office.
Rebecca looked directly at her daughter.
“I taught you that keeping adults comfortable was more important than telling the truth when you were afraid.”
Josephine’s eyes filled.
Rebecca continued.
“I told you you were protecting Dad. You were actually protecting me from consequences.”
Silence.
“That was wrong.”
Josephine whispered:
“You made me think we’d lose the house.”
“Yes.”
“You said Dad would hate me if he found out I knew.”
Rebecca started crying.
“Yes.”
“Did you believe that?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.”
That answer was awful.
Also necessary.
Josephine asked:
“Then why say it?”
“Because I knew fear would work faster than asking you to forgive me.”
Josephine looked away.
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Rebecca did not ask for a hug.
That was the first sign she was learning.
