Chapter 20 - Spencer’s Last Explanation
Spencer was sixty-three when Paisley asked us both to dinner.
No emergency.
Miles was five.
She wanted to discuss estate planning.
Funny.
She and Ethan were creating guardianship nominations.
Who would care for Miles if both died?
She had questions because of my life.
We talked.
Independent trustee.
Guardian separate from money maybe.
Backup choices.
No assuming grandparents forever.
Then Spencer said:
“Don't name me first. I'm sixty-three.”
Paisley laughed.
“Wasn’t going to.”
He looked offended.
Good.
Then after Ethan left with Miles, Paisley asked:
“Dad, do you still think Mom overreacted that day?”
Spencer went still.
“No.”
“Did you ever?”
“For years before, yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at me.
Then her.
“Because if Emma was overreacting, I didn't have to choose between her and Mom.”
There.
“I wanted both. So whenever they disagreed, I decided Emma was dramatic.”
Then:
“When you were burned, that story became impossible.”
“So you lied.”
“Yes.”
“Because you still didn't want choose.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Why custody folder?”
“I was afraid if Emma left, she’d reduce my time because she didn’t trust my mother.”
“Would she?”
I answered:
“I would have asked for restrictions on Gertrude, not Spencer automatically.”
Spencer nodded.
“I knew that.”
Then:
“So why fifty-fifty?”
“Fear. Pride. Money some. And because I thought if court ordered equal, Emma couldn't control me.”
Paisley:
“You weren't ready to parent half.”
“No.”
“Grandma would've.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“So you wanted legal equality and actual delegation.”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
Paisley sat.
Then:
“Did you love Mom?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you protect marriage?”
“I thought not choosing sides was protecting it.”
I laughed once.
“Silence is side.”
He nodded.
“I know now.”
Then:
“Do you regret prison?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think sentence unfair?”
“No.”
That answer.
Then:
“Do you forgive Grandma?”
Spencer took time.
“Yes.”
“Did you see her before she died?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“That I was right she made her own choice. And wrong because I used her choice as cover.”
Paisley nodded.
Then:
“I think I’m done asking.”
Spencer smiled.
“So am I.”
The dinner ended.
No hug between me and Spencer.
Paisley hugged both.
Then later he texted:
Thank you for letting me answer without correcting.
I replied:
You told truth. Nothing to correct.
That was maybe closest to friendship.
Still not friendship.
We had shared adult child.
History.
Respect.
Enough.
Then Spencer’s health.
He developed prostate cancer at seventy? Could be treatable, not moral. Let's perhaps keep him alive longer.
At seventy-two, mild heart disease.
No need final death yet.
He lived.
Laura remained.
Paisley visited.
No new offenses.
No regression.
That mattered more than dramatic illness.
Then Emma aging.
At sixty-eight, I retired from hospital operations.
No career born from abuse.
I had built normal profession.
Evan? We never introduced in this version! Wait earlier chapters did not mention Emma remarry. We can choose not to remarry. In Chapter 18 user final had maybe no. I haven't introduced Evan at all. Fine. Emma can remain single or date privately. Let's decide she had a long-term partner maybe not needed. Better no forced romance. She may have relationships but no remarriage. The story is still complete. In Chapter 23 maybe talk.
Then at retirement, Paisley asked:
“Did Dad ruin marriage for you forever?”
“No.”
“Why never remarried?”
“Because I never wanted to enough.”
Good.
No trauma = single.
Then:
“I dated.”
“I know, unfortunately.”
May you like
We laugh.
A full life.
