Chapter 12 - THE CONVERSATION DIANE COULDN’T WIN
Diane agreed to meet only after Eric refused six consecutive invitations to “come talk without Megan.”
The meeting happened in a therapist’s office.
Neutral location.
No Noah.
No Scout.
Frank attended.
So did Megan and Eric.
Diane began immediately.
“I want it understood that I never intended to hurt my grandson.”
Megan said:
“I believe you.”
Diane blinked.
She had expected a fight.
Megan continued.
“That does not make what you did acceptable.”
Diane looked toward the therapist.
“I raised two healthy boys.”
Eric leaned forward.
“This isn't about whether we survived childhood.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“You've become incredibly disrespectful.”
Eric almost laughed.
“No. I've become disagreeable.”
“There’s a difference?”
“Yes.”
Megan watched Diane absorb that.
Frank finally spoke.
“Di, why didn't you ask them?”
“Because they would have said no.”
Nobody needed the therapist to explain the significance.
Eric said quietly:
“Exactly.”
Diane looked toward him.
“You were exhausted. Megan was overwhelmed. Noah wouldn't sleep.”
Megan answered.
“Then you help by making dinner. Or doing laundry. Or asking what we need.”
“I did those things.”
“And when they didn't give you control, you did this.”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“I was trying to matter.”
The sentence changed the room.
Frank turned toward her.
Eric stopped moving.
Megan felt anger and pity collide.
Diane looked at her son.
“Once you married, every year you needed me less.”
Eric’s voice softened.
“That is supposed to happen.”
Diane cried then.
Quietly.
Not theatrically.
“I know.”
Megan had expected denial.
Instead she received something more painful.
Understanding without full accountability.
Diane still argued that the medication had been minimal.
Still insisted she knew what she was doing.
Still claimed Noah had never been harmed.
The therapist stopped her.
“The question is not whether your method produced the result you wanted.”
Diane looked down.
“The question is why you believed you had the right.”
May you like
Diane could not answer.
For once, nobody answered for her.
