The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss

Cooper tells the reader about Vanderbilt’s mother’s decision to fight for custody of her, beginning in October 1934. Vanderbilt recalls staying in Gertrude’s Old Westbury estate and being told to call her “Auntie Ger” (61). Vanderbilt started school and began adjusting to life as a Vanderbilt, even reading an etiquette book given to her by Dodo. Vanderbilt believes her mother fought for custody because she wanted to be seen by the Vanderbilts and the public as a good mother. She also notes that she likely saw herself as a good mother despite her inability to bond with her daughter, which Cooper has trouble believing. He wonders if the fear she had being in the middle of this public custody battle as a child was like the fear he had as a child following his father’s death. Later, Auntie Ger’s lawyer, Frank Crocker, became acquainted with the family and asked Vanderbilt whom she wanted to live with. Vanderbilt immediately told him she wanted to live with Auntie Ger and Dodo and cried. Crocker then assured her that she would get to stay with them but that she had to tell the judge why she did not want to live with her mother.