Chapter 6 - PATRICIA’S TESTIMONY
Patricia volunteered to testify.
I still do not understand why.
Maybe she believed confidence could substitute for evidence.
It had worked inside the family for years.
Rachel asked:
“How often did you see Elena faint?”
“Many times.”
“How many?”
Patricia hesitated.
“Five or six.”
“Did you believe those events were fake?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever call emergency services?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she always recovered.”
Rachel nodded.
“Did you tell Lily her mother fainted because she was emotionally unstable?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Lily she could make her mother collapse by causing stress?”
Patricia’s face changed.
“I told her not to upset Elena.”
“Why?”
“Because Elena was always fragile.”
There.
Not malicious enough for television.
Worse.
Ordinary.
Rachel continued:
“Did you search Lily’s backpack?”
“I checked it.”
“For what?”
“Things Elena sent.”
“Did you ask Lily questions about her mother’s health?”
“I was concerned.”
“How often?”
“I don’t know.”
The child evaluator’s report provided the answer:
Repeatedly.
Patricia finally snapped:
“You’re making me sound like a monster.”
Rachel replied calmly:
“I’m asking what you did.”
Judge Hanley looked up.
That was enough.
Later, Patricia cried in the hallway.
I walked past her.
She called:
“Elena.”
I stopped.
She said:
“I truly thought you were exaggerating.”
I stared.
“That was never the worst part.”
“What was?”
“You wanted Lily to believe it too.”
She looked away.
I continued walking.
May you like
Forgiveness, if it ever came, was not required outside a courtroom door.
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