Chapter 20 - The Mother Jake Decides To Keep
At thirty, Jake became a father.
A daughter.
Lily.
When Christine first held granddaughter, she cried.
Jake watched.
Later he asked:
“You scared?”
“Of?”
“Being grandma.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I failed you.”
Jake answered:
“Then don’t make her fix that.”
Christine stared.
“Okay.”
She became careful.
Maybe too careful.
Asked permission constantly.
Jake said:
“You can hold baby without form.”
They laughed.
Then one day Lily was four and threw tantrum.
Christine raised voice.
Jake froze.
Christine saw.
Stopped.
“I’m sorry.”
No cycle dramatic.
Just awareness.
Then Jake asked me:
“Did you ever think Mom shouldn’t be my mom anymore?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Hospital.”
“Why didn’t you try terminate rights forever?”
“Because later safety changed and you wanted her.”
“What if I didn’t?”
“I would protect that.”
Then:
“Do you think court was right?”
“Yes.”
Supervised first.
Then gradual.
Then shared.
No simple.
Then Jake:
“I forgive Mom.”
I looked.
“All?”
“No.”
“Then what mean?”
“I don’t need punish her in my head.”
Good.
Christine never asked him to say.
When he told her, she cried.
“I’m sorry.”
Jake rolled eyes.
“You can stop now.”
She laughed.
Then she said:
“Thank you.”
He corrected:
“No. Don’t thank me for forgiveness.”
May you like
She nodded.
That was healthier.
