Chapter 16 - Prison
Vanessa served time.
Daniel visited after six months.
I did not.
He asked permission? No, not needed. Told me.
Good.
“How was it?”
“Awful.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked about Lily.”
“What did you say?”
“That she’s safe.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
Good.
Vanessa wrote Lily.
We gave letters to therapist first.
First:
I am sorry I hit you.
Good.
Then:
I was angry at myself and took it out on you.
Good.
Then:
You did nothing wrong by dropping cake.
Excellent.
No pressure.
Lily chose not to read initially.
We saved.
A year later she did.
She wrote back:
I still don’t want to see you.
Vanessa answered:
Okay.
Boundary respected.
That mattered more than eloquence.
Financial restitution took years.
Assets seized/sold.
Milwaukee property liquidated at loss.
Insurance and restitution restored most trust principal over time.
Daniel personally repaid loan.
Independent trustee corrected accounting.
Lily’s trust survived.
May you like
Money became less dramatic.
Good.
