Part 10
Simon returned every dollar he could.
The rest became part of the legal process.
He resigned.
Months later he sent me a handwritten letter.
Not asking forgiveness.
Just explaining.
I read it.
Then put it away.
Thomas cooperated too.
His lawyers handled the negotiations.
Our friendship did not resume.
Not in the old form.
Occasionally, he sent a message.
A birthday note for Ava.
Congratulations after Harper’s concert.
Once:
I saw the Lakeview clinic reopened the third pediatric room. Evelyn would have liked that.
I answered:
Yes.
Nothing more.
For a while, that was the honest amount of relationship we could manage.
Forgiveness is often described as a door.
I think it is more like rebuilding a bridge after a flood.
You do not begin by pretending the old bridge still stands.
You stand on opposite banks.
You inspect the damage.
You decide whether crossing is even wise.
Then perhaps, slowly, you build.
The Vale organization changed.
Some businesses were sold.
Others were audited and restructured.
Anything I could not explain to Katherine without lowering my voice was reconsidered.
That became a useful rule.
Dominic hated the first six months.
Then, to my surprise, he became one of the strongest supporters of the changes.
“I’m forty-six,” he told me one morning. “I would like my next job description not to include phrases like hostile contingency.”
“You have another job lined up?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I’m saying I approve.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you making this difficult?”
“Tradition.”
May you like
He rolled his eyes.
Even Dominic had learned new habits.
