Chapter 23 - Daniel does not choose between us
After Veronica’s release, relatives started saying:
“Daniel needs to forgive his mother.”
I hated that sentence.
Daniel hated the opposite:
“You should cut her off forever.”
He refused both.
He said:
“I’m not choosing between my wife and my mother. Claire is my partner. Mom is responsible for whether she can have a healthy relationship with us.”
Specific.
Then Veronica requested:
Weekly visits with Nora.
We offered:
Once every three weeks.
For now.
Daniel present.
Public or our home only if I agree.
No taking Nora alone.
Why not supervised professional forever?
Because Veronica had shown no direct child-safety risk and her assault was against me.
Could change later.
Then first post-release visit.
Our house.
I stayed.
Why?
My choice.
Veronica arrived carrying no bags.
She looked at Nora.
“May I hold her?”
She asked me.
Not Daniel.
Me.
I said:
“Yes.”
She sat.
I handed Nora over.
Veronica cried.
Then said:
“Hello, Nora Elise.”
No Vivian.
Then:
“She has Daniel’s ears.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
Poor baby.
Visit lasted forty-five minutes.
At the end Veronica said:
“I brought something but left it in the car because I didn’t know the rule.”
“What?”
“A book.”
“Books are fine.”
She retrieved it.
Price:
$14.99.
No engraved name.
No hidden check.
That was behavior.
Then she asked:
“Can I come next week?”
Daniel said:
“No. We said three weeks.”
She looked hurt.
Then nodded.
May you like
“Okay.”
That okay mattered more than the book.
