Chapter 25 - Diane’s review
Six months after the slap, Diane requested expanded grandparent contact.
Not unsupervised weekend.
One-hour supervised visits twice monthly.
Her probation:
Compliant.
Anger program completed.
No new violations after park warning.
Therapeutic visits:
Five.
Lily increasingly comfortable.
No forced affection.
No physical discipline.
Then evaluator/therapist recommended:
One-hour supervised community visit.
Mark not supervisor.
Professional or agreed neutral.
I opposed initially.
Why?
“I don’t trust her.”
Therapist:
“Trust is not required for supervised contact.”
I hated that sentence.
Then:
“Is Lily benefiting?”
“She appears curious and attached without current distress.”
“Could that change?”
“Yes.”
Then visit.
Children’s museum.
Supervisor.
Diane.
Lily.
No Mark.
No me.
Afterward report:
Diane followed directions.
No discipline issues.
No money/gifts beyond one approved snack.
Lily held Diane’s hand briefly.
My stomach turned when I read that.
Then Lily came home.
“Grandma fish!”
There had been an aquarium exhibit.
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes.”
No fear.
Then:
“Grandma no hit.”
Two-year-old logic.
I said:
“That’s right.”
Diane did not become safe because of one museum visit.
But the legal/clinical system had moved from:
No contact.
To therapeutic.
To supervised community.
Behavior-based.
Then Diane sent me no apology directly.
Good.
Our no-contact civil agreement had expired after settlement.
She could technically message.
She didn’t.
Then Mark said:
“I appreciate you agreeing.”
“I agreed because therapist recommended.”
“I know.”
No request for more.
Then financial closing of divorce final?
Property already signed but decree perhaps now final after custody. Divorce decree entered.
Marriage ended.
No remarriage.
No grand speech.
Court clerk uploaded signed decree.
Lauren emailed:
Final.
I read it during lunch at work.
Then went into a procurement meeting about refrigerated trucking contracts.
Life can be rude that way.
No music.
May you like
No empty courtroom.
Just spreadsheets.
