Underneath Carolyn’s simple, unfussy presentation was a very complicated woman. She was always assessing, teasing apart someone’s psyche and figuring out what made them tick, what would make them happy or upset, and using that to get what she wanted. She could hone in on someone’s most painful insecurity and weaponize it. But she could also be extremely kind and warm. You never knew which Carolyn you were going to get; even her closest friends were kept at a remove. If you crossed her she’d drop you flat, just cut you off with no way back. It was a trait she shared with John’s mother.
