Chapter 24 - Isolde’s last counterattack
Three months into therapeutic contact, Isolde filed a request to expand visits.
Not wildly.
One unsupervised Saturday afternoon every other week.
Her argument:
Compliance.
Therapy progress.
No violations.
Tamsin misses her.
Dr. Price recommended:
Not yet unsupervised.
But short supervised family outings could begin.
Isolde disagreed.
Then her lawyer introduced my new work calendar.
I had three trips scheduled in six weeks.
Two nights each.
“Mr. Vale says he reduced travel, yet other caregivers will keep Tamsin.”
True.
Isolde argued:
“Why can strangers do what grandmother cannot?”
My backup caregivers were not strangers.
Maribel.
Thomas and Claire.
After-school staff.
Still, the question had force.
If Isolde eventually became safe, permanent exclusion could become punishment rather than protection.
I hated admitting that.
Then Dr. Price proposed criteria.
Four successful community visits.
No boundary violations.
No food control.
No recording.
No comments about my absence.
Tamsin comfortable.
Then consider a short unsupervised outing.
Specific.
Isolde agreed.
She withdrew motion.
May you like
That was the first time she chose earning over forcing.
It mattered.
