Lenora did not argue.
But she also did not build her healing around the size of his punishment. She had seen what happened when a life revolved around proving value to other people. She refused to let revenge become another version of him living in her house.
Beverly tried to write.
The first letter arrived on thick cream paper.
Dear Lenora,
I have had time to reflect on the misunderstandings between us…
Lenora stopped reading at misunderstandings.
She placed it back in the envelope and gave it to Vincent.
The second letter was longer. More emotional. Beverly wrote about motherhood, pressure, fear of losing her son, not knowing Lenora’s “full background.” She asked for a private meeting “woman to woman.”
Lenora did not answer.
The third letter came six weeks later, shakier in handwriting.
I know now that I treated you badly because I thought you had nothing. I am ashamed of that. I don’t know how to live with what that says about me.
