Chapter 26 - Morwenna earns one afternoon
Two and a half years after the park, Dr. Brooks asked me:
“What evidence would you need before allowing Morwenna a short unsupervised visit?”
I hated the question.
Then realized I had no answer.
If the answer was:
Nothing is ever enough,
then I was no longer assessing.
I was sentencing.
Morwenna had:
Completed supervision.
Continued therapy voluntarily.
No boundary violations.
No unauthorized school contact.
No messaging Caroline about custody.
No discussion of relocation with Odelia.
Accepted supervised visits.
Accepted no when Odelia declined twice.
Apologized accurately.
Caroline supported a trial visit.
Odelia wanted:
“Grandma’s Christmas cookies without Dad watching.”
Rude.
So:
Two hours.
Public botanical garden holiday display.
Morwenna and Odelia.
I dropped her.
My entire body screamed.
“What if—”
I stopped.
Odelia looked at me.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“You’re doing the face.”
“What face?”
“The weird face.”
Morwenna said nothing.
Good.
I asked Odelia:
“You have your phone watch?”
“Yes.”
“You know you can call?”
“Yes.”
“What if Grandma says not to?”
Odelia rolled her eyes.
“Then I call more.”
Nine.
Progress.
I left.
Two hours later I returned.
Odelia ran out carrying a paper snowflake.
“How was it?”
“Good.”
“Anything—”
She stared.
I stopped.
“Good.”
In the car:
“Grandma asked if I want to go to North Carolina for Christmas.”
My heart jumped.
Then Odelia continued:
“I said Mom already told me the schedule. Grandma said okay.”
That was it.
Morwenna had asked about Odelia’s plans, not recruited her into custody conflict.
May you like
I let my nervous system stand down.
New evidence counted.
