it fun… did she enjoy it?” Angela’s eyes were still feasting on the award.
“She loved it. She was going through a divorce and having a pretty rough time. I was glad when she decided to go. I think it was the best thing that could have happened to her. She came back stronger, almost like her old self.” Willow sighed. “Sometimes you just have to get out of town, you know, change the atmosphere.”
“I do know,” Angela said with a weak smile. “I guess this is my out of town.” She made air quotes with her fingers.
“Are you getting stronger?”
“I think so.” Angela nodded, then tilted her head from side to side. “Most of the time.” She could have added, except when I’m scared, or lonely, or tired.
“For Katelyn it was really more than getting out of town. If she hadn’t gone to D.C., she would never have met Donna, who is also a recovering victim of narcissism.”
A victim of narcissism? Angela frowned. “Did you say Katelyn?”
Willow nodded. “That surprises you?”
“Very much. Katelyn seems so rock solid. So together.”
“She is now. But her ex had really done a number on her—that’s what narcissists do. In the end, the victims need help as much or more than the abusers. Donna spent time talking with Katelyn, helping her understand. She gave her hope.”
Angela threaded her fingers together. “Hope is good.”
“Hope is good, but sometimes hope gets in the way of wisdom. That’s what happened with Katelyn. She hoped Cory would change. She had two small children and a marriage to which she was committed. She hoped she could save it. It took her three times of going back into crazy land before she quit hoping he would change.” Willow shook her head. “With a narcissist, hope is all you’re going to get.”
There was that word again. Unconsciously Angela rubbed her forehead. Narcissist. It was apparently more common than she had imagined. She’d been told more than once that Brice was one. She hadn’t examined that idea. Maybe she should. “Is that what we used to call egotism?”
“It’s like that,” Willow pondered. “I’d call it egotism on steroids. With the main difference being lack of empathy. Something in them is missing. They are typically charming, but also controlling, selfish, and dishonest when it suits their needs. There are also different degrees. At the low end of the spectrum—as long as you understand what’s going on and guard yourself—you can live with them and just accept that they’re obnoxious and unlikely to change. At the other end of the spectrum—well, they can be sociopaths.”
Angela shuddered. “That’s scary.”
“Extremely.” Willow’s face clouded over. “Cory had made Katelyn so insecure, so unsure of herself that she couldn’t even buy the girls clothes without his approval. Fortunately for her, there were plenty of family members around that saw her losing herself. Cory tried to keep her isolated from us. That’s what they do oftentimes, but with her working here it wasn’t possible. Thank God.”
“Yes,” Angela muttered. Brice had been controlling, dishonest, and had certainly made her feel insecure. She knew she’d lost herself. Bit by tiny precious bit. He had also alienated her from her family. Wow. She hadn’t even realized it. He kept her so busy with his plans, his needs and wants that whenever she mentioned visiting her folks, he’d throw a fit. Was Brice a narcissist? And if so, did she need help like Katelyn received?
Willow must have noticed the change in Angela’s demeanor. Her voice was soothing and helpful when she said, “Donna put Kate in touch with WWA.”
“I’ve never heard of that.”
“Women Warriors Anonymous—which deals with living with and living without a narcissist. It turns out there is a chapter of WWA just across the bridge. Katelyn goes there a couple of times a month to educate and reinforce herself, but also to help others with what she’s learned. It’s a supportive group that welcomed her instantly. They’re always working to spread the word about abuse and always looking for speakers.”
“Wow, poor Katelyn,” was all Angela could say.
“Yes, she was.” Willow smiled. “You’ve heard the old adage: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? It’s true. Katelyn is a force to be reckoned with now.”
After a few more minutes of discussion, Angela bid Willow goodbye and left Island Floral. The sun was shining even brighter than when she’d gone in, another glorious Florida day. She drove the short distance to the cove with the top down on her sports car. The wind tousled