Chapter 17 - Andrew Outside Prison
Andrew looked older.
Gray at temples.
Thinner.
When he entered supervised family center, Anna stared from behind counselor.
“Daddy?”
He stopped.
“Hi, Anna.”
She looked him up and down.
“You’re tall.”
He laughed and cried at same time.
“So are you.”
She held stuffed rabbit.
He did not reach until she did.
Good.
I watched through observation room.
My hands shook.
At forty five minutes, Andrew asked:
“Can I hug?”
Anna shrugged.
“Okay.”
He hugged gently.
No possession.
Then session ended.
Anna ran to me.
“Dad cries a lot.”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
“Can I see again?”
“We’ll talk therapist.”
“Okay.”
Andrew sent parenting app message:
Thank you for bringing her.
I replied:
She wanted visit. Follow plan.
He wrote:
Understood.
Nothing else.
Three months supervised.
Six months.
No violations.
Andrew got job managing maintenance scheduling at distribution company.
His criminal record prevented some positions.
He did not hide.
He completed domestic violence intervention.
Financial ethics program.
Individual therapy.
No contact with Margaret beyond limited approved calls.
Then mediator meeting.
I agreed to one.
Andrew sat across.
“I am not asking reconciliation.”
“Good.”
“I know.”
Then:
“I want apologize face to face.”
I waited.
“I isolated you from Claire and Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“I used phone.”
“Yes.”
“Money.”
“Yes.”
“Your car.”
“Yes.”
“Medical.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I blamed Mom because she hit you.”
He swallowed.
“But before she ever picked rolling pin, I had already built house where she thought hurting you would be tolerated.”
That line stayed.
Then:
“You made choices.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t make yourself architect of her violence.”
He nodded.
“Right.”
Then:
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing.”
I studied.
“Really?”
“I want safe relationship with Anna if she wants.”
Then:
“And I want to repay restitution.”
He was.
Slow.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
I said:
“I forgive you.”
His face broke.
I continued.
“That does not mean I trust you with money, my house, my phone, or decisions.”
“Yes.”
“It does not mean we become friends.”
“Yes.”
“It does not mean Anna owes you.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“If she says no?”
“I stop.”
Good.
Then visits expanded.
Public daytime unsupervised after court review.
The first time, I nearly canceled.
Therapist:
“Any new safety evidence?”
“No.”
“Then fear is information, not always instruction.”
I hated.
But true.
Anna returned laughing.
“Dad burns pancakes.”
Normal.
Then overnight at seven.
No issue.
Andrew called if medication question rather than guess.
Good.
Then Margaret was released earlier under her sentence credits and supervision.
She wanted meet Anna.
I said no.
Her relationship accountability had not caught up.
May you like
She accepted eventually.
That acceptance became first evidence she might.
