GiGi

Hi LNCronan, I was just wondering what your theory is specifically considering Corinne? Do you really think that Corinne thinks that she has a shot with Gideon again? Or do you think that her suspicion meter is registering? I have stated on several occasions that I believe that Corinne knew that her relationship with Gideon wasn't healthy...to say the least. Look at Corinne's timeline with Gideon: 1. Corinne chased Gideon. 2. Corinne caught Gideon or should I say that Gideon allowed himself to be caught. 3. I wonder if Corinne is the one who instigated sex...hmm. 4. Corinne instigated spending the night at the hotel and yet Gideon called it an early night and left (you are correct, there was no weekend planned. I confused the two.). 5. After a year of this type of relationship Corinne called it quits in hopes that Gideon would chase after her-he didn't. Now all of a sudden, after Gideon "breaks up" with Eva, he begins seeing Corinne again. Is the reader supposed to believe that Corinne learned nothing from her first go around with Gideon? It seems that Gideon has completely fallen back into his original routine with Corinne (yes I know it is a cover up and that he is dating Corinne for an alibi). What I don't understand is why Corinne is falling for it? Your theory hasn't accounted for any of Corinne's reactions. Your alpha male theory doesn't make sense because it was Corinne who instigated the entire relationship Gideon not the other way around. That was completely confirmed when Corinne ended the engagement and Gideon let her walk away. Gideon himself stated that it was “flattering†to have someone love him, but that he didn’t really love her. That is why Corinne ended the engagement to Gideon (whether she knew it consciously or not). So what is different about this time around? Do you have any thoughts? Everyone feel free to jump in. :)

Hi LNCronan, I read your posting and you are getting warmer. Your theory still hasn't accounted for Corinne's reactions to this entire situation. I stated before and I will state it again, that surely Corinne must have know that something was off between her and Gideon. If you recall from Gideon's perspective, sex between the two of them was lukewarm at best. Every time they were in together, Gideon couldn't wait to be away from her. Again I ask you, do you think that Corinne didn't notice Gideon's nonverbal communication. His actions must have spoken volumes with her. If I recall, Gideon and Corinne were supposed to spend the weekend in the hotel together and not just sex. No sooner had they gotten to the hotel room, Gideon realized that he wasn't going to be able to spend an entire weekend with her. He made a lame excuse and left. Do you think that Corinne wasn't putting all these little incidents together? I just one other quick observation to make. Throughout this relationship Gideon has allowed Eva to jump to the wrong conclusions each and every single time because of his lies of omission. Could it be that Gideon, yet again, allowed Eva to jump to the wrong conclusion about him having killed Nathan, in order to spare Eva more suffering? Maybe knowing that the real killer was her mother/or Stanton/or Clancy, etc. would be too painful for her to bear, so he let's her believe that it was him who killed Nathan? What do you think? What does everyone else think?

Hi LNCronan, I read your postings and I think that both you and I have a difference of opinion when it comes to the word “intimateâ€. Intimate dinners are usually in a dark corner of a restaurant not out in the front of the restaurant window, on display for all to see. I also find it very interesting that no photographers spotted Gideon and Corinne canoodling…whatsoever. A couple “in love†doesn’t care who sees them kissing and hugging, etc. The reader has not seen that type of interaction with these two characters. Yes I know that this simply a cover story, but again I assert that these actions cannot be lost on Corinne. Cover-up or not, common sense would dictate to Corinne that something is not right. Alpha male or not, why won’t this man kiss or her touch her in a loving embrace, etc? It is not like these two have not had sex before, so why keep up prudish appearances? That surely can’t help Gideon’s supposed alibi and the lack of affection couldn’t be boding well for Corinne. Is the reader left to believe that Corinne too will settle for whatever meager scraps she can get from Gideon too? Another thing I find interesting is that Gideon is meeting Corinne in strictly public places; his office building, restaurants, and perhaps he has been picking Corinne up at her apartment (nothing is mentioned in the book-so the reader is left to wonder), but never at his apartment. I also just wanted to confirm with you where you got the information about the Vodka party being at Gideon’s old f*** pad? I can’t remember reading that in the book. What is left to confirm is just how deluded Corinne is? Again I state that on some level Corinne must know that Gideon doesn’t love her. She tried games the first time around and lost her engagement and Gideon, but has time taught her nothing? What do you think? What does everyone think?

Hi everyone, I just had a thought…yes another thought. For those of you who have gone to graduate school or university; does it strike you as odd that the PhD Candidate accepted the offer to work with Gideon? No grad student, regardless of their area of study can counsel, conduct experiments, perform clinical examinations or offer clinical counseling sessions to a “patient†(in this case Gideon) without the expressed consent of the University’s Ethics Department firstly. Any graduate student wanting to conduct any kind of study or offer any kind of help to a patient has to apply for permission from the University’s Ethics Department. When graduate students are finished writing their thesis, they then have to apply to their department of study to argue their thesis. Any kind of counseling work would be offered on the University Campus through a specific clinic (ie. Elizabeth Vidal would have brought Gideon to said location for his counseling sessions). All university campus clinics have complete accident/malpractice insurance because they have students working with the general public. All students are considered a potential risk to the public so it is very important to establish stringent parameters from which students can work and learn from. It is also important to remember that the grad student hadn’t graduated from his University program yet and hence wasn’t licensed. Therefore he would still have had to have a “Faculty Advisor†to guide him and make sure that he wasn’t making any mistakes and that he was following the appropriate course of treatment for his patient. PhD Candidate or not, this man was still a student. So again that leads me back to why Elizabeth Vidal would leave her son in the care of a student?! So where did the psychiatrist find the grad student? Was he a student of hers? Did she teach him at the University? Why didn’t she follow protocol established by the university that she taught at? Surely she would know that she could lose her job over pulling a stunt like this? These are technical questions I know, but I think that they need to be considered. What does everyone else think?

Hi Everyone, Mrsmajessick asked a really good question; who is more pathetic Trey or Magdalene? My money is on Trey. Trey is a confirmed gay male but Carey is bi-sexual. This has caused nothing but problems between the two of them because Trey couldn't accept who Carey is. This in turned caused Carey to act out (see orgy scene in Bared To You) and the scenes where Carey slept with Tatiana. Despite all of that, Trey is determined to continue to date Carey. Why? Carey isn't going to change who he is. Carey never lied to Trey about his sexual orientation either. So why is Trey settling for scraps when it obviously upsets him when he sees his boyfriend being who he is? I suspect that this isn’t Trey’s first relationship either, so it can’t be argued that maybe wasn’t sure of his sexuality. Why would someone ask another person to being something that they are not? What does everyone else think?

  Hi Mrsmajessick, I want to thank you for telling me about your experience. Your telling of that little girl’s story was profoundly sad. You just gave that little girl a voice; a voice that had been brutally and violently taken away from her. I am glad that you told her story! You remembered her. She is no longer a statistic. She was a little girl who was taken away too soon. I think the discussions that have happened here are for a greater good. If we think about it, 95% of us see this forum as a; fun way to discuss books we enjoy, characters that we love (and hate-wink) and generally pass the time until the next brilliant installment. But maybe for those few individuals who might suspect a child is being abused or know for a fact that a child is being abused and thus far haven’t done anything about it, this forum and these discussions might give them the courage to make a phone call and reach out to get someone else some help (they can do it anonymously of course). God/Universe willing, maybe another child won’t become a tragic statistic and that would be amazing! :)

Hi everyone, I think that maybe initially Gideon was physically touched but I think that later on the abuse may have escalated to actual penetration. My supposition is based on Gideon's dream where he is yelling about how much it hurts. I suppose that it could be a matter of interpretation and I think that is one issue that will hopefully be dealt with in the next book. As I stated before, depending on when Gideon was examined, would determine whether there was physical evidence (ie. when did Gideon make his outcry and tell his mother that he was being abused). There is absolutely no written word from Sylvia, I suspect that Gideon probably tolerated a lot of abuse before he finally opened his mouth and said something to his mother. In which case, if my theory is correct there would have been physical signs of abuse; tearing, scarring, bruising, hemorrhages, petechiae, etc.(any or all of the symptoms). If that theory is correct, it would have lead to someone covering up Gideon's abuse, which means pediatricians lied when they claimed that they couldn't find any abuse/or someone paid these medical professionals off to cover up any potential scandals. I think that Sylvia may give more in depth information in her next book. All of these theories (it doesn't matter which theory anyone discusses), are based one and dependent on one thought or another. It is almost like building a house made out of cards. One wrong move and the entire house tumbles down. What does everyone think?

Hi KiMa, I am not suggesting that Gideon had Corinne kill Nathan. I was just wondering how Corinne would have know how to pick Nathan out of a crowd. What motive would Corinne have to kill Nathan? Did Nathan just pick Corinne off the street, follow her somewhere and try to attack her? Did he use his charms to lure her somewhere and then attack her? What? If you can come up with the ideas, I am all ears. I think that Corinne showed up at the Crossfire Building looking to meet with Gideon but was wasn't allowed to meet with Gideon (for whatever reason) and maybe on her way out of the building she saw Eva and knew that she could get to her by making her jealous. So Corinne musses her self up a little, paints the "I had a good time look" on her face and walks out the door smugly. I am saying this strictly from a speculative point of view. Sylvia did not specifically write that is what Corinne did. That is why this such a good series. It allows the reader's imagination to flourish. What do you think? :)

    Hi LNCronan, I just wanted to clarify that my understanding was that Gideon was put into therapy because his anger escalated and spilled over onto the family, Christopher Jr. then started misbehaving. You are right in saying that Gideon was angry, but it was my understanding that everything got much worse after Elizabeth married Vidal Sr. and began having more children. I think that's when the anger escalated. What do you think?

Hi LNCronan, I think that Gideon's actions in the elevator could be explained away. He could have spun the story to the police about how; he needed to remind Eva to stop calling him, following him, going after his family members, friends, etc. (depending on the timeline) and I think that would only be based on the accounts of witnesses. Somehow I doubt that the detectives could gain access to every single office and employee in the building. I have one quick question; if Gideon and Stanton didn't meet in their respective offices, then where did they meet? I seriously doubt that there would be a phone trail between the two men either, which leads me to my next question; How did these two men communicate if they didn't communicate by phone?

Hi KiMa, I read your theory and I was wondering how did Corinne know about Nathan and how could she have picked him out of a crowd? Do you think that Gideon told her about the abuse Eva suffered or do you think that she went digging on her own? I think that if you can answer those questions, then your theory becomes more plausible. :)

    Hi MrsCrossfire, I just wanted to clarify that if Stanton and Gideon were conspiring to kill Nathan together, then it would make sense to hide any communication or meetings from the police. I don’t necessarily believe that, it was just one of many possible theories. :)

Hi LNCronan, If Gideon was smart enough to erase any tapes which showed him having any pleasant type of contact with Eva, then surely Stanton would have been smart enough to erase any tapes which showed Gideon going into his office building. It wouldn’t make sense that Gideon was careful and that Stanton wasn’t? If I were to sit back and think about this logically, I don’t think that either Gideon or Stanton would have met in their respective offices if either man was planning to commit the murder. I also don’t think that either man would disclose their plans of murder to the other. So the reader is left to wonder; is this red flag or a red herring?

Hi Everyone, I was just wondering if Vidal Sr. did payoff the individuals responsible for Gideon’s abuse, how has the Vidal’s marriage survived that kind of constant pressure. At some point didn’t Elizabeth figure out what her husband did? Wouldn’t Gideon actions (gaining controlling interest) pit him against his step-father in Elizabeth’s eyes? Even if Elizabeth Vidal were coerced into believing her husband (another theory mentioned earlier), after all these years how has this issue not driven a wedge between these two adults? Is this now a situation of Elizabeth and Christopher Vidal against Gideon?

Hi Everyone, I don’t think that Christopher Sr. did it either, but I do think that maybe he played a role in a “potential†cover-up. I stated in another posting that if Christopher Sr. did payoff someone to keep quiet, then why leave Gideon in the situation? Why not have a heart and sent him away to boarding school? Why leave Gideon to suffer if in the end it would make Christopher Sr.’s life miserable; either directly or by way of Elizabeth Vidal or Christopher Jr.? It’s all little odd don’t you think?

Hi LNCronan, Who knew that the word “paranoid†and Gideon could be found in the same sentence? Holy molly, by the end of the series I think we are all going to need therapy(psychiatric or chiropractic, either one will do)! This is turning into a veritable Payton Place! :)

    Hi LNCronan, I read your posting and I was just wondering if Monica is so rattle because she is the one who killed Nathan? That would be a really big secret to carry around for someone who isn’t good at carry those kinds of secrets? It might also explain why Monica is upset about the police going after Stanton. Stanton has been good to Monica, Stanton has constantly cleaned up all of Monica’s family messes and Monica likes that. Monica’s Marilyn Monroe “ish†is starting to fade. Could it be that the rose is losing its bloom? Could it be that Monica is starting to unravel just a little bit? I am completely in agreement with you about Detective Graves. I don’t think that woman has one altruistic bone in her body. There is also no way that a detective can just decide not to investigate a “fresh†homicide case. They would receive “pink slip†therapy (i.e. they would lose their jobs). I guess we are going to have to wait and see. I have a strong feeling that Detective Graves will play a big role in the next book. We are now in the month of March lady. We have only three more months to figure out the entire story; who did what to whom, who hid what from whom and who was just plain clueless. If we have any extra time left over, which I think we will, maybe we can come up with a cure for that pesky cancer thing. What do you think? With all the brain power of all the ladies in this forum…PIECE OF CAKE!! :)

    Hi Mrsmajessick, I read your comment and I just wanted to clarify that my comments were in no way directed toward you whatsoever. I am so glad to hear that you have parents that care about their patients and care about their safety and well being. That gives me hope for healthcare. I completely understand your discussion of the theories and I am completely cool with that. The issues of abuse have professionally hit close to home for me. In my eighteen years of clinical practice I have only ever had to report a case of abuse once (Thank you God-may I never see another case again). I cannot go into specifics but I can tell you that the abuse was very obvious. So as a matter of professional protocol I documented all the physical evidence and the statements made by the “patientâ€. I then asked the office manager to keep the “individuals†who brought the child in for treatment distracted and away from the child. I informed the owner of the clinic what was going on and what the protocol was; I had to call the police and then I had to call The Children’s Aid Society (or CPS in the US). To my utter surprise and horror I was informed not to call and that he, “the owner†of the clinic (also a healthcare provider) would privately deal with the situation. When I asked him what his plans were for keeping the child safe, he began yelling at me to mind my own business. I then politely reminded him that I was legally obligated to report the abuse and to take the appropriate steps necessary (as mandated by my regulatory healthcare licensing body). While he was screaming that his clinic was going to lose revenue over the loss of the patient, I called the police and then CPS. Needless to say, my contract was terminated immediately (I subsequently sued the owner of the clinic and won) and several individuals healthcare providers received reprimands (by their regulatory healthcare licensing body). When I asked colleagues about whether they had seen cases of abuse in their professional careers, a few had stated that they had, but they didn’t inform anyone of the abuse. The number one reason was; they were afraid of losing their jobs. They then proceeded to lecture me about how they had bills to pay, and a mortgage to pay, etc. (as if I don’t have bills to pay-sigh!). When I politely reminded them that they were legally obligated to put their patient above their own needs, I got a few select middle fingers. I know that I am not the only person that this has happened to, but I wonder how many healthcare professionals would turn a blind eye. I suspect that there are a few or maybe more than a few. Maybe people visiting this website might know someone who doesn’t always put the needs of their patient/s above their own. Maybe all these discussions might help somebody who doesn’t know what to do, make the right decision. That’s all. I am sorry if I bored anyone.

    Hi Jo-mama, In theory you are absolutely correct. Any physician, medical professional, nurse, dentist or healthcare provider should be above reproach, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case in the real world. The current theory is that the doctors whom Elizabeth Vidal consulted lied for their own reasons either; monetary gain, revenge or that perhaps they were themselves victims of her late husband’s ponzi schemes. You are absolutely correct in that nothing should ever prevent a person from performing their ethical duty and upholding their “oath†of non maleficence- or do no harmâ€. All people who work in the healthcare industry, whose patient healthcare lay in their hands has to swear this oath. I had to swear this oath when I was licensed eighteen years ago. My Jurisprudence and Ethics Professor once said that people are either inherently ethical or they are not. One hopes that for those individuals who are not ethical, that they can be educated to be more ethical. It doesn’t usually end up working out that way however. How many times have we heard about cases in the media where something completely unethical occurs with a patient and then said investigations begin? A doctor touches a patient inappropriately, someone covers up mistakes made during a procedure, someone lies or “doctors†patient charts, etc. Could it be that maybe that some of us may know someone who is the healthcare profession who doesn’t put the patient first or follow the protocol set up by their individual healthcare regulatory body? No everybody who is a healthcare provider is ethical, not every healthcare provider has scruples. As to the claims of Gideon being abused, if you go back to the book you will find that Elizabeth Vidal stated herself that she went looking for “physical evidence†of Gideon being abused. Depending on the type of abuse that Gideon was experiencing at the time would determine whether they may have found “physical evidenceâ€. For example if a child were being orally raped, if the practitioner were experienced and smart enough, then they would be examining the back of the child’s mouth and looking for circular bruising (signs of the p**** hitting the back of the child’s throat), or hemorrhages or petechiae (little ruptured blood vessels) that can present when a p**** is being rammed into the back of the child’s throat. If a physician or healthcare provider isn’t specifically trained to look for specific physical evidence then, the abuse can go undetected or be overlooked. The most sinister thing for me is the fact that Elizabeth Vidal didn’t believe her son. That is the worst thing that can happen to a child. A mother is supposed to always protect and believe her child. She is always supposed to give her child the benefit of the doubt. Elizabeth Vidal did nothing. She failed her son in every way that was important. What is worst of all, is the fact that Elizabeth Vidal handed her son over to the abuser so that he could continue to rape him. Game over.

Hi Mrsmajessick, I am starting to think that Elizabeth Vidal had “Mommy Dearest†Guilt. Or should I say selective guilt. She feels guilty about the fact that her husband killed which was something she couldn’t control but doesn’t feel any guilt about not having one ounce of common sense in not believing her son’s claims of being sexually abused? She then doesn’t want to inconvenience herself and hire new therapists to help her and her son, but she doesn’t even see fit to make sure that her son is seen by a proper child psychiatrist? Hello?! I just don’t know anymore. Elizabeth Vidal cares from all outward appearances but her actions show that she doesn’t. Let’s lay out the points here: • Gideon claims that he is being abused-Elizabeth doesn’t believe him. She needs “proof†in order to believe her son. Huge problem. • Elizabeth asks Christopher Jr. about the abuse (a five year old child) and thereby pits one child against the other. • Instead of suffering any type of supposed “familial humiliation Elizabeth decides to quietly ask two doctors to exam Gideon. No mention is made if Gideon was examined in a hospital, clinic or otherwise. One is left to assume that Elizabeth Vidal had the “doctors†come to the family house instead. No mention is made as to whether these two doctors are independent of one another. • Who was present during these examinations? Was there a nurse with each doctor? • If Elizabeth Vidal was so concerned about her child’s well being then why didn’t she believe him when he said that he was being abused? • If Elizabeth Vidal was so concerned about Gideon’s disruptive behaviour, his outbursts and his fighting (and the effect that it was having on Christopher Jr.), then why didn’t she make sure that Gideon saw a child psychiatrist and not a lowly “Grad Student� • If Gideon had that many problems than why would she entrust the mental health of her child to someone who wasn’t qualified? I understand exactly what you are saying, I think as a reader I am left with more questions than plausible (answers a reader could stomach) answers. Every time I come up with a theory, more questions arise. As soon as I think I have answered a question, then a dozen more sinister theories arise. Why do I suddenly feel like a hamster running around on one of those plastic wheels? Sigh!

    Hi LNCronan, I read your postings and I think that if Nathan did attack Carey, he didn’t hit him just a few times. He hit him several times and that makes a difference in the theory department. Let’s remember that Carey was a strong, vibrant, healthy young man who took care of himself. I think that it would have taken several blows in order for his bones to break. Carey also would have been doing his very best to protect himself (i.e. cover his head; protect his neck etc, with his arms, hands, etc.). Unless a person is unconscious, they will automatically raise their hands/arms etc. to whatever the threat is which seems to be evidenced by the fact that Carey had a broken arm Page 208 (so Carey didn’t get a chance to swing on his attacker-this was strictly a survival situation). This means that if your theory is accurate, then somebody stood by and watched while Carey was moaning and screaming in pain and yelling for help. Could it be that a bystander heard Carey’s cries for help and came in for to help? That is just as plausible. Could it be that Carey got attacked and then Gideon decided to have Nathan followed, while Gideon hatched a plan for Nathan’s demise? What Mrsmajessick said makes sense to me. If I were to commit murder I certainly wouldn’t be discussing it with everyone around me. I would keep my plans quiet and to myself. Could it be that each and every character was hatching a plan to do in Nathan themselves. Monica and Stanton could be a unit because they were married and legally couldn’t be required to testify against one another in court (or maybe Stanton found out about what Monica was up and then came in and cleaned up the mess/or sent in someone to help her, who knows?). I agree with you that the books are written from Eva’s perspective but what is more interesting is how the other characters dealt with the whole Nathan issue or lack thereof. No one told Eva about his presence in New York. As a reader I find that even more interesting. It isn’t always just what Sylvia writes. Sometimes the lack of interaction between the characters is just as important during a crisis situation and I think that Nathan showing up in New York is a crisis situation. Up until then Monica always called her daughter; at home, work, and on her cell. Then Monica spotted Nathan herself and….nothing…..crickets! She said nothing to Eva? Why?! If that isn’t a “RED FLAG†then really I don’t know what is?

    Hi Mrsmajessick, I read your theory and I have only one question; why leave Gideon in the house then? Why not send him off to some type of military boarding school? In that way, Gideon isn’t being raped and he is out of Vidal’s hair (Sr & Jr.). If Vidal Sr. was capable of paying off monsters to keep their mouths shut and to rape his step-son, all the while convincing his wife that nothing was wrong, then why not be at least half humane and dump the kid in a private boarding school? If that man has that much power to convince his wife of crap, then surely he could convince her that sending Gideon away would be in Gideon’s best interest? Keeping Gideon around would create even further scandal for the family don’t you think?

    Hi LNCronan I read your posting and I have to say that I am confused. On page 197 of RIY Gideon states “She didn’t believe meâ€â€¦..His gaze was trained over my head. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s long done.†Gideon’s words to Eva directly imply that he himself told his mother about the abuse and that she didn’t believe him. It would also explain why he has a terrible relationship with his mother and why he remains so distant from her and from his family. In your comment you asked: “So what if Angus decided instead to keep his mouth shut, remain Gideon's childhood driver, continue to believe Gideon and have faith in him and do everything he could to protect him for the remainder of his childhood.†I would respond to you by saying that Angus did NOT protect Gideon if he knew that Gideon was being abused and was criminally responsible for said abuse if he continued to keep his mouth shut. Period! Let’s just have a little dose of common sense here people! Let me clarify again once more so that everyone knows the protocol; if a child is being abused (hit, beaten, raped, molested, etc.) the first order of protocol is to call the police! The child would have been removed from the immediate source of danger. In the case of Gideon there was an outcry, which means he said that a crime was being committed against him (he said it to his mother and maybe to Angus). He was being raped! The automatic obligation is to call the Police! A crime is being committed! Once the complaint is made, the police would come in and begin their criminal investigation (to see if in fact a crime was being committed and who was committing said crime. The second order of protocol would be to contact Child Protective Services. They would come in and assess the child and then look at the living environment, have the child taken to a hospital for examination, to look for physical evidence. They would also talk with the child and the people assessing the situation. Both of these parties are extremely important in; 1) Stopping any immediate physical, sexual abuse act being committed on the child, 2) Assessing if a crime has been committed and 3) Making sure that the child has been removed from any source of danger permanently. It isn’t a situation of one or the other. Both agencies are crucial in this type of claim. People often assume that when a child is taken to a hospital for an examination (because of abuse claims) that the only call that needs to be made is to CPS. Let’s remember that the hospital has the physical and legal capacity to hold on to the child, separate him/her from the potential abuser and keep them safe until CPS arrives. In a way, they are acting like a surrogate agent for the police. I say that Angus theory is flawed because Angus himself could have picked up the phone and made an anonymous phone call to the police to tell them about the Gideon’s sexual abuse claims (if he was so afraid of losing his job/or if he wanted to protect Gideon). That would have immediately put the wheels in motion and Gideon would have been removed from the household. He then would have been taken to the hospital to look for any physical evidence and there would have witnesses that Elizabeth or Christopher Sr. Vidal couldn’t have bribed (if that is in fact what they did). I get really upset when I think about how many people in Gideon's life didn't use a little common sense and step in to help. It seems that everyone had their own interests at heart and at the end of the Gideon payed dearly! Sigh!

    Hi LNCronan, Something just struck me as odd; Elizabeth Vidal hired all these supposed experts to help her "troubled son" so then why did Gideon only get the doctoral candidate and not the psychiatrist himself? Yes I know that Elizabeth Vidal was having a hard pregnancy and all, but wouldn't the psychiatrist refer Gideon to a child psychiatrist or have another specialist come out to the house on the days that original psychiatrist was going to be there helping Elizabeth Vidal? Gideon after all is supposed to be very disturbed-he has made false claims of abuses that couldn't be verified. He is also acting out and very violent, so again why would Gideon only need a lowly "Grad Student" and not someone with the best qualifications? Seriously?! Did anyone check Christopher Jr. to see if he was being abused? If not, then why? I also just wanted to clarify that when the abuser started touching Gideon he was grooming him. He wanted to see what he could get away with before his contact with Gideon escalated. It will be interesting to see how this dealt with in the next book.

Hi Jo-mama, I just wanted to clarify that just because these women were affluent doesn't mean that Elizabeth Vidal would tell Magdalene's mother about Gideon's claim (false claims in her mind) of abuse. It would have left Elizabeth open to some very serious criticism from Magdalene's mother. I think these women probably shopped together, attended charity functions, and had each other over for dinner. Most people wouldn't disclose that kind of information to anyone other than a family member (if absolutely forced). You are right in saying that Sylvia could the story any way she wants. That's true! After all these are her characters and she can do anything she wants with them. I just don't know if she would write the story that way. Who knows?