Educated: A Memoir

Westover remembers the aftermath of the confrontation with Shawn. When she returned to Cambridge after Christmas, she was in shock. In early March, Shawn called and threatened to kill her. He casually asked her whether he should do it himself or hire an assassin. Westover hung up on him as he snarled that his assassin was coming to Cambridge for her.

Westover called her parents. Faye said he did not mean it, and Gene wanted evidence. He was astonished that she did not record the call. For a while, Shawn continued calling and threatening Westover, but eventually sent her a long, accusatory email telling her to stay away from his family. Faye and Gene said Shawn was justified in cutting Westover off because her anger, rage, and warped reality were more dangerous than Shawn had ever been.

Westover received a grant to study in Paris that summer and spent the time trying to forget everything that had happened with her family. One afternoon, she received an email from Audrey. Gene had visited her and told her that Shawn had been cleansed by the Atonement of Christ, and that it was God’s will that Audrey and Westover forgive Shawn. Audrey said that she had forgiven Shawn and that Westover had provoked her and betrayed her by giving in to fear of Shawn, which came from Satan.