She was forever complaining that children needed firm physical limits.

She told me I was spoiling Emma by bargaining with her instead of demanding instant obedience.

She hated it when I let Emma pick out her own clothes or decide when she was full.

I’d just never believed she would turn her petty complaints into real violence.

I thought it was just her generation grumbling.

“She used my own sister,” I said.

“Vanessa was the weapon,” Mark said.