Chapter 21 - The answer is not yet
I said:
“Not yet.”
Camila asked:
“Why?”
“Because Grandpa hurt you and grown-ups are making sure it’s safe.”
“He sorry.”
“Yes.”
“Then safe?”
“Sorry helps. It doesn’t decide everything.”
She accepted.
Dr. Wallace smiled at me later.
“You did better.”
“High praise.”
Then Harold heard Camila had asked.
His lawyer did not file.
Instead, he wrote to evaluator:
“I do not want her request treated as pressure. Please proceed at clinical pace.”
Good.
Then his own therapist recommended a restorative accountability session with adults first.
Me and Harold?
No.
I declined.
Could still evaluate without me.
Harold met with Andrew’s sister Tessa and Mason’s mother Susan as family members affected.
He apologized to Mason for making him witness violence.
Mason, now nine, said:
“I still don’t like you.”
Harold:
“Okay.”
Family reports said no argument.
Then Margaret and Harold finalized divorce.
Property division:
Harold kept Sterling Ridge units mostly separate/inherited.
Margaret received negotiated share of joint investments and sale proceeds from lake house? They sold lake house, perhaps.
No one destitute.
No hidden revenge clause.
They each moved on separately.
Margaret’s reduced lifestyle did not become my satisfaction.
Then civil attorneys formally closed our case after all payments.
No pending damages.
Criminal appeals closed.
Sentences completed/ongoing supervision.
Trust adviser replaced.
Riverside stabilized.
Corporate vote done.
Only family-contact case remained active.
That was intentional.
It was the hardest part.
Then Camila turned five.
Birthday at my sister Elena’s backyard.
Small.
No Sterling relatives except Tessa, who had rebuilt trust separately.
No Harold.
No Margaret.
Margaret sent a card through supervisor.
Allowed.
No gift.
Harold sent nothing because his contact plan did not include birthdays yet.
Camila noticed.
“Grandpa forgot?”
“No.”
“How know?”
“Because adults have rules.”
She nodded.
Then:
“Can he send next year?”
“Maybe.”
No promise.
Then family court review.
Dr. Keller recommended:
Margaret transition to community visits supervised by approved family member.
Harold remain professional therapeutic supervision but permit first in-person sixty-minute session at clinic.
I opposed Harold in-person.
Not automatically.
I gave reasons:
Camila still has nightmares after some calls.
He once violated with gift.
Physical presence may trigger.
Evaluator acknowledged.
Recommended thirty minutes, not sixty.
Court approved only if Camila agrees day-of.
There.
Day came.
Camila said yes.
I almost hoped she would say no.
That was my issue.
Clinic room.
I watched behind observation glass with therapist permission? Could be not ideal. Let's say I waited adjoining room.
Harold entered.
No belt.
No suit.
No gifts.
Camila stared.
He stayed seated.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Then she asked:
“You big.”
He laughed once.
“I guess.”
“Don’t chase me.”
Harold’s face broke.
“I won’t.”
That sentence became the condition of the whole relationship.
The visit lasted twenty-four minutes.
Camila left holding my hand.
“Again?”
I asked.
May you like
“Maybe.”
Good.
