I very much appreciate your views on this and your comments because you were privy to their behaviour in court. I remember you said that in court Cindy was rubbing George's back most of the time. It seems to be something that Cindy does quite often.
With all due respect, I think that that is Cindy's way to control- their image and the person she's rubbing. I do not see this remotely as a loving gesture. Maybe it is a comfort to her, a way to soothe herself but I don't think it comforts anyone else.. In fact, there's something compulsive about it. IMO.
In fact, the control part reminds me of Andrea Lyon holding the perp's wrist at a hearing. The perp didn't want people saying what they were saying in court, and she was telling AL to "make it stop". AL wasn't holding her wrist out of concern; it was a way to control the perp's behaviour, a way to rein in her impulsiveness.
Now that I think of it, the rubbing is, indeed, Cindy's way to self-soothe. Instead of a teddy bear, she uses George and others. And controls them.