The Dysfunction Of Evan: Books 1-3 Collection

51. Down the Rabbit Hole

 Dear Astrid,

I honestly have no idea where this is coming from. Once again, you are blindsiding me. I thought we had moved past all of that, and had found peace. I guess at this point I shouldn't be surprised, we've been through this before. I assumed that you had matured after your experience with Marcus. You've come such a long way since meeting Tom, I never expected this to happen again. But I guess that's what you do. 

I will say it again, I raised you as best as I could. You were a problem child, you freely admit it yourself. I did only what I knew to do. I tried to instill good values into you. I tried to mold you into a good person. I never claimed to be perfect. You are my daughter and of course I love you. I wouldn't have done the best I could for you if I didn't. 

I hope you'll change your mind. From the pictures you send, they are beautiful children. Marie and I pray for them every day, they have struggled so much in their young lives, they deserve only happiness. I hope you depraving them of us will not effect them. I will send along what gifts we have gathered for them as soon as I am able. We will write letters and cards and keep them, and present them to the twins when we are finally able to meet them. If we should pass before that time, I ask that you do so on our behalf. We love them so much already. 

I hope you seek some counseling. I know you don't like it, and only seek it when you are struggling with your depression, but I think you'd benefit from seeing someone to discuss other problems you clearly seem to have. This back and forth behavior you have points to some mental instability, and I think you are reflecting  on your own fears of being a mother and blaming Marie and myself. 

I noticed that Tom was CC'd to your email, so I've CC'd him as well, and now I shall address him. 

Tom, 

I understand if you choose to stand behind Astrid's decision, but I sincerely hope you do not. She is acting irrationally about this situation. I understand that she's painted a picture of a horrific childhood with Marie and I as the enemies. It's a claim she's made for attention since she was a small child. I remember a time when she had reported her mother and step father to CPS for abuse. When that turned out fruitless, she set her gaze on myself. Marie got swept up in her lies the day they met. 

Did I make mistakes? Of course, every parent does. Did I abuse her? No. Her basic needs were met, she got the medical care she needed, she attended school. She was always pushing the line as a child, and would nearly always be in need of discipline. Astrid has always had an active imagination, and would hear things and decide that it happened to her, because she knew it would get her attention. Marie and I tried our best to shelter her from things that would influence her to do these things, but her mother and step father did not see the need to. They bought into her stories  and catered to the attention Astrid vied for. Marie and I choose to only provide positive attention for positive behaviors. That is not abuse or neglect. 

Astrid is a master manipulator. It's probably what makes her such a great actress. I hope you are smart enough to not fall for her tactics, though I think you already have. Astrid has a habit of destroying the good things that come into her life, if you are not careful, she'll drag you down with her. 

-Dad.

I read through the letter for the millionth time as my aunt and uncle drove us home, reading it aloud for them. Even though he'd read it, Holly still cringed. Tom's reaction to it hadn't been much better. I switched over to his response and read it.

Craig,

With all due respect, though I can't see at this point where much can be afforded, I fully believe Astrid. In fact, your letter killed any doubt I may have had, and I will stand by her choice. If Astrid is a master of manipulation, I can see where she learned if from. However, she uses it for survival, you use it to gain power, and she's much more skilled at it. More so than you could ever hope to be.