Chapter 15 - Colin as a Father
Colin never became the father he pretended he had always been.
That would have required rewriting.
He became a better father slowly.
Different.
At thirteen, Owen wanted to quit soccer.
Colin said:
“You committed to season.”
Reasonable.
Owen said:
“I hate it.”
Old Colin might have turned commitment into debt.
New Colin asked:
“Can you finish three remaining games?”
Owen:
“No.”
They negotiated two.
No apocalypse.
Then Ruby wanted an expensive art tablet.
Colin said no.
Ruby called me.
“Dad is controlling.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“Mom.”
“Not every no is control.”
She hated that.
Good.
Then parenting schedule had long expanded:
Alternate weekends.
One weekday dinner.
Half holidays.
Shared school access.
I retained? At this stage probably joint decision making could have been modified after years. At twins age eight, court/parents agreed to joint decision making for routine education and medical, with dispute mediation. No need reopen now. Good.
Colin never asked to reduce my role.
No 50/50 battle for symbolism.
By teenage years, schedule flexible around twins.
Then his work.
He became operations planning supervisor again eventually.
No financial authorization role? Different company, but employer knew felony? He disclosed. Some companies still hire. Fine.
He paid taxes.
Support.
Contributed to college savings separately through regular 529 accounts? But twins already have trust. Maybe he contributed monthly to trust or separate 529 with Natalie as owner? Avoid complexity. He contributed to their trust annually as gifts through trustee.
No conditions.
Then his second relationship.
He dated Laura Grant, a high school counselor.
Before she met twins, Colin disclosed conviction.
Ruby searched him online anyway.
At fifteen she asked Laura:
“Do you know Dad went to jail?”
Laura:
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
“Enough.”
“Are you scared?”
Laura looked at Colin.
“No. I pay attention.”
Good.
They married two years later.
I did not attend.
Twins did.
No problem.
Then Beth.
She hated Laura on principle for six months.
I told her:
“Stop.”
“She’s marrying him.”
“Yes.”
“After knowing?”
“Her choice.”
Beth learned too.
Then my own dating.
I waited longer.
At forty three, I met Daniel Brooks, an occupational therapist through a hospital client event.
He knew I had twins.
Divorce.
Eventually story.
He never said:
I would have killed Colin.
Good.
He said:
“That sounds exhausting.”
Exactly.
We dated three years.
He asked to move in.
I said:
“No.”
He said:
“Okay.”
Six months later, I reconsidered.
We bought nothing jointly at first.
He rented his place.
Then we married at forty seven.
Prenup.
Not because mistrust.
Because both had assets and children/obligations.
Independent lawyers.
Clear.
No one offended.
Then Ruby asked:
“Do you have spreadsheet?”
I laughed.
“No.”
Daniel:
“I have Google Sheets.”
“Get out.”
Good.
Then Colin and Daniel met at school event.
Polite.
No male duel.
No old score.
The twins did not need men performing ownership around me.
Then Owen broke his wrist skateboarding at sixteen.
Dominant arm.
Sling.
I almost laughed at cosmic cruelty.
Colin picked him up from urgent care.
Doctor said no driving.
Owen:
“I don’t drive yet.”
Then:
“No lifting.”
Colin looked at me across room.
Memory.
He said:
“We’ll figure out help.”
That was all.
Later, Owen complained:
“Dad won’t let me carry backpack.”
I said:
“Listen to doctor.”
Then Colin texted privately:
I thought about your arm all day.
I replied:
I figured.
Then:
I’m sorry.
I almost wrote:
Stop.
Instead:
I know.
Done.
Then Ruby applied to colleges.
Private art school.
Public university.
Costs.
Trust could help.
But at eighteen? The trust continues until 25 with education distributions. Fine.
We taught:
Aid.
Scholarships.
Budget.
No blank checks.
Owen considered engineering.
Dad Peter would have loved.
Then exact balances:
Ruby trust around $87,000.
Owen around $89,000 after approved expenses and market growth.
Not one hundred combined? We said crossed 100 combined earlier; okay now >176k combined.
Professional trustee reviewed tuition.
No parent unilateral.
Then Ruby asked:
“If Dad hadn’t taken money, would there be more?”
Martin calculated:
Maybe a few thousand difference due market timing, but restoration included estimated lost gains. Not meaningful now.
Colin had repaired financially what could be repaired.
What remained could only be repaired relationally.
Then graduation.
High school.
Both twins.
I sat with Daniel.
Colin with Laura.
Beth nearby.
No seating war.
Ruby crossed stage.
Owen next.
I cried.
Colin did too.
Afterward the twins demanded a photo with both parents.
We stood.
No touch.
No awkwardness.
Camera clicked.
The first family photograph of all four of us since they were infants.
I looked at it later.
Not a picture of reconciliation.
A picture of consequence surviving long enough to become cooperation.
Then Ruby said:
“Mom, when I turn twenty five, I want the spreadsheet.”
“Why?”
“To frame WIFE HOUSING.”
I groaned.
May you like
The story had become theirs now.
And they were about to become old enough to decide what money meant without either parent deciding for them.
