Chapter 13 - Noah Stops Blaming Himself Finally
Noah began having nightmares.
In them, Victor returned to the ballroom.
Sometimes Noah could not find the velvet box.
Sometimes Rebecca disappeared.
A child therapist helped him understand something adults had failed to
protect him from.
He had not caused the family to break.
He had revealed something already broken.
Rebecca repeated that every night.
“You didn’t ruin my marriage.”
“But Victor got mad because of me.”
“Victor chose what he did.”
“Vanessa told me to get the box.”
“That was her choice.”
“I said he stole it.”
“That was true.”
Noah thought for a moment.
“Am I allowed to be glad I found it?”
Rebecca kissed his forehead.
“Yes.”
“Even though everybody cried?”
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
Then asked the most eight-year-old question imaginable.
“Can I have pancakes?”
May you like
Rebecca laughed for the first time in days.
“Absolutely.”
