Chapter 22 - Megan sees Lucas again
The first meeting happened nearly two years after the birthday.
Lucas was seven.
Megan had completed incarceration and was deep into supervision and treatment.
She had been sober by documented measures for substantial time.
No automatic right to see him.
She asked through Robert.
We asked Lucas.
He said:
“Maybe.”
Then:
“Will she have medicine?”
“No.”
“Can I leave?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Therapist’s office.
Twenty minutes.
Megan looked older.
Not ruined.
Different.
She sat across from Lucas.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
She began crying.
Immediately.
Lucas looked uncomfortable.
She noticed.
Wiped her face.
Good.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Straight.
“I brought medicine into your house that wasn’t mine.”
Lucas stared.
“I hid it in the pantry because I didn’t want your dad to know I had it.”
He looked at Robert.
Robert was present.
Then back.
“I found it.”
“Yes.”
“I thought mint.”
“I know.”
“Why did you put it with food?”
Megan’s face tightened.
“I wasn’t thinking about you. I was thinking about hiding it.”
There.
Not:
I forgot children existed.
Not:
It was an accident.
Her selfish focus.
“I’m sorry.”
Lucas asked:
“Did you want me sick?”
“No.”
“Did you give it to me?”
“No.”
That answer was supported by evidence.
Lucas nodded.
Then:
“Okay.”
Not forgiveness ceremony.
After twelve minutes, he asked:
“Do you still like Lego?”
Megan laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
May you like
They built a small car.
Repair began there.
