Chapter 12 - ARTHUR AND REBECCA
Arthur saw Rebecca once before sentencing.
Counsel present.
No hug.
Rebecca looked smaller than he remembered.
“I’m sorry.”
Arthur said nothing.
“I never wanted Noah hurt.”
He looked at her.
“You knew he would be outside.”
“I thought you would see it.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“You expected me to solve danger you created.”
She started crying.
Arthur’s voice stayed quiet.
“That is the part you still don’t understand.”
Rebecca wiped her face.
“I was angry about the land.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You were angry that I could make a decision you didn’t control.”
Silence.
That landed.
Arthur continued:
“You thought scaring me would make me negotiate.”
Rebecca looked down.
“Yes.”
Then:
“I thought you were stealing Mom’s promise.”
Arthur asked:
“Did Mom sign anything?”
“No.”
“Did your own consultant find contamination?”
Rebecca did not answer.
“Yes or no?”
“Yes.”
There.
The dispute had never been about whether the problem existed.
It was about whether Rebecca should be exempt from consequences because she felt ownership.
Then Arthur said:
“You almost made Noah pay for an argument he never knew existed.”
Rebecca began sobbing.
May you like
Arthur did not comfort her.
He left.
