Chapter 16 - The Mother June Never Knew
Anna Vale gave June Megan’s journals when June was twenty-three.
Not all at once.
She asked.
June read over summer.
Megan was funny.
That surprised her.
One entry:
Olivia has perfected screaming whenever I put sandwich in mouth.
June laughed.
“Sounds like me.”
Another:
Blake says he wants to be involved but only if nobody knows yet. I told him fatherhood isn’t witness protection.
Sharp.
June loved that.
Then:
I’m scared.
She stopped laughing.
Megan feared money.
Richard.
Blake’s family reputation.
But she did not fear Blake physically until final entries? No evidence of prior violence.
Three days before death:
Blake wants to meet Friday and says he’ll tell his father.
Then:
I don’t believe him, but I’ll give him one last chance.
She brought Olivia because she refused leave baby overnight.
Then no more.
June closed journal.
“Did he intend to kill her?”
“We don't know.”
“I hate not knowing.”
“I know.”
“Do you think?”
I said:
“Evidence supports reckless hit, not deliberate. I don’t want to turn anger into fact.”
She nodded.
Then:
“I look like her.”
“Yes.”
Megan had same smile.
Blake’s eyebrows.
June hated that second.
Anna said:
“You also have her stubborn chin.”
Better.
Then June wanted photograph of Blake younger.
Why?
“To know what parts face are his.”
I found public old school yearbook.
She stared.
Then:
“I have his eyes.”
Maybe.
She cried.
“Can I change eyes?”
“No.”
“I know.”
Genetics can feel invasive when donor is abuser.
Therapist helped.
Traits are not morality.
Blake’s genes did not contain cruelty.
Megan’s did not contain goodness automatically.
June made choices.
Then she met Blake?
At twenty-four, after years, she requested one prison meeting.
I did not attend.
She told afterward.
Blake looked older.
“June.”
“Don’t call me Olivia.”
“Okay.”
Then:
“Did you love Megan?”
“Yes.”
“Why leave?”
“Fear.”
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why give me away?”
“I thought Dad had plan.”
“Did you know Ethan’s baby died?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see me after swap?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Hospital nursery.”
“You watched Ethan hold me?”
“Yes.”
June started crying then.
“Did you want me back?”
Blake:
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t?”
“Because getting you back meant telling truth.”
There.
“So you chose yourself.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Birthday cake.”
He covered face.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“You looked like Megan and Ethan was so proud of you.”
“So?”
“I was jealous.”
“Of your brother loving your daughter.”
“Yes.”
June later told me:
“That was pathetic.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you ever think I belonged to you?”
Blake:
“For years.”
“Do you now?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you told court Ethan was your father.”
Interesting.
Then June said:
“Even if I hadn't, you don't own me.”
Blake nodded.
“I know now.”
Meeting ended without hug.
She did not visit again for three years.
Then occasional letter.
Not father/daughter reconciliation.
Accountability.
She called him Blake.
At twenty-eight, she wrote:
“I forgive you for my sake. That does not make you my father.”
He responded:
“I understand.”
No ask.
Then Megan’s journal.
June donated copies? No. Private.
She kept original with Anna until Anna’s death maybe.
Then a project in industrial design: children's furniture? She designed modular school desks. Not trauma.
She got job.
Life.
Then she started dating Noah Bennett, civil engineer.
I did background? I wanted.
She said:
“Dad.”
I stopped.
Trust.
Then wedding later.
Would Blake attend after release? Maybe not. Need future.
But first Richard’s death and company.
May you like
Chapter 17 maybe Richard final. Chapter 18 Blake release. 19 company no heir. 20 June adulthood/wedding. 21 truth about inheritance? 22 memorial. 23 Ethan aging. 24 final family board? 25 close.
Let's continue.
