Chapter 9 - VANESSA RETURNSVanessa appeared again seven years after the hospital.
She contacted Emma through an attorney.
She wanted to apologize.
Emma almost refused.
Then curiosity won.
They met in a mediator's office.
Vanessa looked different.
Older.
Simpler.
No red dress.
No theatrical confidence.
She began:
“I hit you.”
Emma waited.
“I humiliated you when you had just given birth.”
Still Emma said nothing.
“I helped Richard collect information against you.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“And I knew he intended to leave before you went into labor.”
Emma's face hardened.
“How long?”
“About six weeks.”
“Why come to the hospital?”
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“Because I wanted to win.”
Emma stared.
“Win what?”
“You.”
That surprised her.
Vanessa continued.
“I wanted to see you know he'd chosen me.”
Emma felt disgusted.
Then strangely sad.
“You thought that was winning?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“He treated me exactly how he treated you.”
There it was.
Not karma.
Pattern.
Richard didn't become cruel because Vanessa deserved it.
He simply carried himself into the next relationship.
Vanessa apologized again.
Emma accepted the apology as information.
Not reconciliation.
Before leaving, Vanessa asked:
“Do you forgive me?”
Emma thought.
“I don't organize my life around hating you.”
Vanessa waited.
“That's what I can give you.”
May you like
She nodded.
It was enough.
