Chapter 15 - Diane’s First Letter to Cassidy
Nine years after the dinner, Diane wrote again.
Through attorney.
She was nearing release eligibility after serving substantial sentence with credits.
I had not received direct letters in years.
This one:
Cassidy,
I know asking you to read this is itself asking something.
Then:
You may stop here.
I almost did.
Then continued.
She wrote about class.
Her father had been poor.
She married Charles because he promised never to be powerless.
They built wealth.
Then wealth became language.
People worth listening to.
People not.
Diane learned to identify importance by clothes, addresses, surnames.
Then Cassidy.
“I thought you were ordinary and therefore safe to mistreat.”
That sentence.
Then when she learned my identity:
“I hated that I had misranked you.”
Not because general should matter.
Because her worldview embarrassed.
Then:
I doubled down.
She called me trash because she knew I was not.
Interesting.
Then Operation Lattice.
She admitted fear.
Then bucket.
“I wanted to put you beneath me again.”
No excuse.
Then:
I am sorry I endangered you and Samuel.
Then:
I do not ask to meet him.
Good.
Then:
If Brendan wants relationship with me after release, I will not ask him to choose between us.
That was significant.
Then:
I understand now that the helicopters were never proof you were more powerful than me.
They were proof I had already been caught.
Yes.
I folded.
Did I forgive?
Maybe.
I wrote one sentence.
I received your letter.
Nothing more.
Then release hearing.
Victim input.
I did not oppose lawful release if conditions robust.
She had served years.
Cooperated.
No new misconduct.
Federal supervision.
No contact with me/Samuel without consent.
Approved release after nine years? If eleven year sentence, with credits maybe around nine. Fine.
Diane moved to small apartment.
Not Brendan’s.
No foundation.
No mansion.
No money network.
Legitimate remaining pension/investments.
Then Brendan visited.
Samuel nine.
He knew Grandma Diane existed.
We had told age appropriate.
“She hurt Mom and did serious illegal business things.”
He asked:
“Like spy stuff?”
“Not exactly.”
Then:
“Did she go to jail?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have to meet?”
“No.”
Good.
Diane did not ask.
A year later Samuel asked himself.
“Can I see her picture?”
Yes.
He looked.
“She looks like Dad.”
Yes.
Then:
“Can I meet?”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because everyone else knows her.”
Not enough maybe, but his curiosity.
Brendan and I discussed.
Therapist.
Diane’s supervision officer.
Public therapeutic meeting.
Maybe.
I said:
“One meeting.”
Diane agreed to conditions immediately.
No gifts.
No physical contact without Samuel.
No discussion of custody.
No blaming.
Then day.
Diane entered.
Older.
Silver hair.
No diamonds.
Samuel stared.
“You’re Grandma Diane?”
“Yes.”
“You dumped water on Mom?”
Direct.
Diane closed eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was cruel and angry.”
No:
She provoked.
Then:
“Were you trying to hurt me too?”
“You were inside her belly. I knew that.”
Samuel frowned.
“That’s bad.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you know Grandpa General?”
She smiled faintly.
“I knew who he was. I did not know what would happen.”
Then Samuel:
“Were the helicopters for you?”
Diane looked at me.
Then him.
“Yes.”
Finally.
May you like
The simplest truth.
Continue to the next part: Samuel meets Diane on his own terms and hears directly that the helicopters were not sent to rescue Cassidy from an insult, they were there because Diane’s own crimes had finally caught up with her.
