Chapter 17 - Julian Comes Home
Julian was released after serving the custodial portion of his sentence, with supervised release conditions.
Elise was seven.
He had not touched her since she was a newborn on video.
Family court scheduled therapeutic reunification.
I vomited morning before first meeting.
Not metaphor.
Anxiety.
Dr. Mills said:
“You can say no if evidence supports.”
“The evaluator supports trial.”
“Then fear is not same as danger.”
Accurate.
Julian entered therapy center.
Gray hair at temples.
No expensive suit.
Elise sat beside child therapist.
I watched through observation window.
He did not rush.
“Hi, Elise.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Julian.”
She rolled eyes.
“I know.”
He laughed nervously.
“Right.”
She asked:
“Are you my dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you stop the jet ski?”
Silence.
He looked at therapist.
Then Elise.
“Because I was selfish and cowardly.”
“Did you want us dead?”
“No.”
“Mom says court couldn’t prove that.”
I closed eyes.
We had perhaps been too transparent.
Julian answered:
“I did not want you dead. But I knew what was happening was dangerous and I did not stop it. That still makes what I did very wrong.”
Elise nodded.
“Okay.”
Then:
“Do you like dinosaurs?”
Julian blinked.
“Yes.”
“Which?”
He smiled.
“Triceratops.”
“Correct.”
Therapist laughed.
Forty five minutes.
No hug.
At end Elise said:
“You can come again.”
I cried in car.
Not because reunion.
Because my daughter had done something I had spent years fearing and walked out still herself.
Visits increased slowly.
Public.
Therapeutic.
Then supervised outings.
No overnight.
No rush.
May you like
Julian respected.
That mattered.
