Chapter 23 - The Letter Theo Did Not AnswerVance became eligible to send a supervised letter to Theo under the relevant restrictions.
The letter arrived through attorneys.
Theo was eleven.
Old enough to have an opinion.
His therapist reviewed it first.
Then Celia told him:
“Vance wrote to you.”
Theo went quiet.
“Do I have to read it?”
“No.”
“Can I?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to?”
Celia answered:
“What I want is not the question.”
Theo looked at her.
Years earlier, Vance had told him exactly what to say.
Celia would not repeat that mistake, even with good intentions.
Theo chose to read.
The letter was short.
Theo,
I am sorry for hurting you.
I was angry about things that were not your responsibility.
The vase was an accident.
My financial problems were mine.
You did not cause what happened.
I do not expect you to forgive me.
Vance.
Theo read it twice.
Then placed it on the table.
“What do you think?” Celia asked.
“He finally said it.”
“What?”
“The money wasn’t me.”
Celia nodded.
Theo did not cry.
He did not rage.
He went outside and shot basketballs.
The letter remained on the kitchen table until bedtime.
Then Theo put it in a drawer.
“Are you going to answer?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Maybe later.”
“Okay.”
“Would you be mad if I did?”
Celia felt the old instinct rise.
Protect.
Control.
Decide.
She pushed it down.
“No.”
Theo studied her.
“You really mean that?”
“Yes.”
“If I never answer?”
“That’s okay.”
“If I answer when I’m twenty?”
“Also okay.”
Theo smiled.
“Twenty is old.”
“Extremely.”
Celia threw a dish towel at him.
He laughed.
The letter stayed unanswered.
Not as punishment.
As choice.
May you like
Vance had taken choice away from Theo.
Celia would never use forgiveness the same way.
