Chapter 16
Matthew listened as I read aloud.
He was a good listener. Except for the therapist, I’d kept it all to myself for so long that at times, even as I was telling him, it was as though the story belonged to someone else. Sometimes he’d ask questions, but mostly he just stayed silent. It was he who suggested that I take a look at Esther’s drawing book, and when I finally had the courage to open it, I was completely stunned.
There were a few pictures, but most of the pages were covered with handwriting. Esther’s writing was awkward at times, but her flow of the English language was remarkable, succinct, concise, and accurate. Randomly, I had opened the book on a page describing my grandmother’s dislike of Clara Borges and her concern over my being sent to Turridge House when my mot
