Chapter 22 - Julian finally says it correctly
Julian’s first apology:
“I’m sorry the situation got out of control.”
No.
Second:
“I’m sorry I didn’t react better.”
Weak.
Third:
“I didn’t mean leash literally.”
Irrelevant.
His useful apology came eighteen months after separation, during a co-parenting session.
He said:
“I watched Chloe slap Lily.”
I waited.
“I froze for maybe two seconds.”
“Yes.”
“Then Hannah reacted.”
“Yes.”
“And instead of going to Lily, I looked at Chloe.”
“Yes.”
His face tightened.
“I was already thinking about how to defend Chloe.”
There.
“Why?”
“Because I knew if I condemned her publicly, I had to admit what she was to me.”
The room went quiet.
He continued:
“I protected my affair before I protected my daughter.”
There.
No softer version.
Then:
“The leash comment was me being cruel because Hannah forced the truth into a public room and I wanted to hurt her back.”
“Through Lily.”
“Yes.”
That was the ugliest part.
He looked at me.
“I used our daughter as language against you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
Then he turned toward Lily’s therapist, not Lily herself because she was not present.
“What do I say to her?”
The therapist answered:
“The part that belongs to her. Not the adult affair.”
Good.
Later, Julian told Lily:
“I should have come to you immediately when Chloe hit you. I did not. I also said something mean about you because I was angry at Mom. That was wrong.”
Lily asked:
“Do you think I need a leash?”
“No.”
“Even when I run?”
“Maybe a hand in parking lots.”
May you like
She laughed.
Repair sometimes arrives through precision and terrible jokes.
