Chapter 23 - Arthur apologizes to Gigi
Arthur was not allowed direct contact during probation.
Near the end of supervision, he asked to send a letter.
I said no.
Six months later, after probation ended:
Again.
Dr. Foster recommended waiting until Gigi could understand enough to choose.
By age four and a half, she knew:
Uncle Arthur hit me.
Simple.
We told her Arthur had written.
“Do I have to read?”
“No.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.”
The letter said:
Gigi,
At Grandma Victoria’s birthday party, you touched a ribbon.
I slapped you.
There.
You did not hurt me.
You did not do anything that required me to touch you.
There.
I was angry because you did not listen when I told you to stop.
You were two years old.
There.
Then:
I blamed your mom afterward because looking at what she did made it easier not to look at what I did.
There.
Good.
I have spent a lot of my life expecting other people to forgive me quickly because my family usually helped make problems go away.
There.
Then:
You do not have to forgive me or see me.
Important.
I am sorry.
Gigi listened.
Then:
“Is he nice now?”
I said:
“He is trying to make safer choices.”
“Can he hit?”
“No one is allowed to hit you because they’re angry.”
“Can I see him?”
Not yet.
May you like
We waited.
No reconciliation deadline.
