Chapter 19 - Harold gets twenty minutes
Dr. Keller recommended one supervised video call.
Conditions:
Camila agrees.
Therapist present.
No discussion of court, Sterling Ridge, Andrew’s wishes, blame, or future contact.
Immediate termination if Harold minimizes.
He accepted.
Call.
Harold looked at Camila.
Cried immediately.
Dr. Wallace said:
“Harold, regulate yourself. Camila is not responsible for comforting you.”
Excellent.
He wiped his face.
“Hi, Camila.”
“Hi.”
She stared.
“Where belt?”
My heart stopped.
Harold answered:
“Gone.”
Actually evidence belt had been destroyed after appeal? Could be still in evidence. Better:
“The police had it. I don’t have it.”
“Buy new?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I will never use a belt on a child again.”
Good.
Then:
“Why hit?”
“I was angry because you told me no, and I thought being Grandpa meant you had to obey me.”
Camila:
“Mommy say I can say no kiss.”
“Yes.”
“You mad.”
“Yes.”
“That bad.”
“Yes.”
Call lasted seventeen minutes.
No request to visit.
Afterward Camila ate crackers.
I cried in bathroom.
Then Dana asked:
“If future therapeutic in-person contact is recommended, will you oppose automatically?”
“I don’t know.”
That was still answer.
Then Harold’s probation officer reported full compliance after dollhouse violation.
No further attempts.
Margaret continued separate contact.
Their legal separation became divorce proceedings.
Harold blamed her deletion for tampering case? His own conviction included own text. Margaret blamed his violence. Property division.
Lake house.
Sterling Ridge units partly separate/inherited.
Joint investments.
No need detailed.
Then corporate.
Riverside met milestones.
Harold’s personal guarantee reduced to $600,000.
He could cover.
No catastrophe.
He withdrew his opposition to remaining Arbor Peak controls.
Sterling Ridge parent company board offered him emeritus non-voting advisory committee after supervision? Too soon and maybe glamorizes. Not necessary.
He remained shareholder.
Then First Harbor’s independent adviser recommended diversifying a portion of Camila’s future Sterling distributions into broad assets rather than reinvesting all in family company.
Harold objected initially.
Then did something unexpected.
No legal filing.
No pressure.
He sent:
“Trustee’s decision.”
That was it.
Control muscle weakening.
Then civil settlement payments completed.
Camila’s protected account funded.
No missing money.
Then family court approved:
Margaret monthly supervised video.
Harold one supervised video every two months for now.
No in-person.
Review.
I wanted the case closed.
The court refused.
Child relationships evolve.
No forever answer at four.
I hated uncertainty.
Then one day Camila said:
“I want Grandma at park.”
Not Harold.
May you like
Margaret.
The next active decision became mine.
