Chapter 13 - Evan’s first overnight with Daniel
Evan refused at first.
“I don’t want Grandma there.”
“She won’t be.”
“Promise?”
Daniel said:
“Yes.”
“What if she comes?”
“I won’t let her in.”
That sentence mattered.
The first overnight happened at Daniel’s rented apartment.
Two bedrooms.
Cheap gray couch.
No family furniture yet.
I packed too much.
Pajamas.
Medicine.
Three snacks.
A written dinner plan.
Then stopped myself.
Daniel looked into the bag.
“Are you deploying him?”
“Maybe.”
Evan rolled his eyes.
Good.
That evening Daniel texted:
He ate pizza. Complained about mushrooms. I survived.
I almost replied:
No mushrooms on his half next time.
Then didn’t.
Normal frustration allowed.
The next morning Evan returned.
“How was it?”
“Fine.”
“What did you eat?”
“Mom.”
Right.
Stop investigating.
I asked:
“Have fun?”
“Yes.”
Enough.
Later Daniel told me privately:
“Evan asked if I’d make him eat kibble if he complained.”
My chest tightened.
“What did you say?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“That food rules in my house would be normal food rules. He doesn’t have to love everything. He does have to be respectful.”
Good.
“He said Grandma thinks respect means eating.”
“What did you say?”
“That Grandma was wrong about that.”
Better.
Daniel was learning to disagree with his mother even when she was not in the room.
May you like
That sounded small.
It was not.
