Despite the drama of her life's story and the depths of emotion lying just
under the surface of her telling it, Elizabeth quickly minimized its importance.
“My story is not nearly as dramatic as Catherine's,” she said. “There won't
be any book about me.”
Her story, dramatic or not, flowed forth.
Elizabeth was a successful businesswoman with her own accounting firm
in Miami. Thirty-two years old, she was born and reared in rural Minnesota. She
grew up on a large farm with her parents, an older brother, and many animals.
Her father was a hard-working, stoical man who had great difficulty expressing
his emotions. When he did display emotion, it was usually anger and rage. He
would lose his temper and lash out impulsively at his family, sometimes striking
her brother. The abuse Elizabeth received was only verbal, but it hurt her
greatly.