Chapter 14 - THE FIRST VISIT
Ethan did not visit Vanessa for ten months.
Then he did.
Not because Michael asked.
Michael specifically did not.
Good.
Vanessa sat across from him in the visitation room.
She looked older.
Only twenty-one.
Still.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
No glass wall.
Supervised table.
Vanessa said:
“I heard you got your driver’s permit.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“Yeah.”
“Dad survive?”
“Barely.”
They both laughed.
Then silence.
Vanessa said:
“I’m working in the library here.”
“Good.”
“I started paying restitution.”
“I know.”
“Do you check?”
“No.”
That surprised her.
“Why?”
“Because the bank does.”
Systems.
Good.
Then Vanessa said:
“I still think Dad controlled me too much.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Okay.”
She blinked.
“You believe me?”
“I believe you felt controlled.”
Different.
Then:
“I don’t believe that means you got to lie about him hitting you.”
She nodded.
“Fair.”
Then Ethan asked:
“Do you still think I hated you?”
Vanessa thought.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because hate would’ve been easier.”
That was probably true for both.
Then she said:
“I used to think if Dad stopped rescuing me, I’d disappear.”
Ethan leaned back.
“And now?”
“I’m still here.”
There.
Consequences as proof of survivability.
Then Ethan said:
“You know what made me angriest?”
“The attack?”
“No.”
Vanessa looked surprised.
“The smile in the hospital.”
She closed her eyes.
“I knew Dad believed me.”
“Yes.”
“I liked it.”
There.
Ugly truth.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan believed that one.
Not forgiveness.
But belief.
He left after forty minutes.
Michael waited in the car.
“How was she?”
Ethan buckled in.
“Still Vanessa.”
Michael almost smiled.
“Good or bad?”
May you like
“Yes.”
They drove home.
