Chapter 17 - THE FIRST TIME THEY COME TO MY HOUSE
Three months after paternity confirmation, Maeve agreed to a daytime visit at my home.
Not the estate where Octavia lived previously.
My city residence.
Smaller.
Still too large by Maeve’s standards.
Silas and Jonah arrived with backpacks.
No overnight.
Four hours.
Maeve stayed for the first thirty minutes.
Then left.
That was trust.
Measured.
Silas checked under the dining table.
I saw.
Said nothing.
He looked up.
“No hooks.”
“No.”
Jonah opened a cabinet.
“Snacks?”
“Bottom drawer.”
He found crackers.
“Free?”
I nearly flinched.
“Yes.”
Then corrected:
“You can ask, and usually yes. Food is not something you earn by working.”
Silas looked at me.
“Grandma said—”
“I know.”
Then lunch.
I hired no formal server.
We made sandwiches.
Mine terrible.
Jonah complained about mustard.
Silas cut grapes in half because Maeve did that.
I let him teach me.
No heir speeches.
No family portraits.
No gifts worth thousands.
At the end, Jonah asked:
“Can we see pool?”
I had a small indoor pool.
“Yes.”
“Swim?”
“Not today. Your mom didn’t pack suits.”
“Can buy.”
“No.”
He looked offended.
May you like
Boundaries apparently worked both directions.
Good.
